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Psychology 104 > The Basics of Science and Experiments in Psychology > Flashcards

The Basics of Science and Experiments in Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Falsifiability

A

Any hypothesis needs to be testable to prove if its false

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2
Q

Why is psychoanalitics not a scientific theory of psychology

A

Psychoanalysts source all mental issues to childhood trauma, if the person does not remember their trauma, they say it’s repressed
- this is not falsifiable

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3
Q

Deductive reasoning

A

An argument which the conclusion necessarily follows
- It is impossible for the conclusion to be false given the premises are true
- Used in mathematics

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4
Q

Inductive Reasoning

A

You can never be 100% sure of the conclusion

Ex. “all swans that have observed have been white”
DOES NOT = all swans are white

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5
Q

Can you prove a positive?

A

No

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6
Q

Fact

A

observation of the world around us

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7
Q

Hypothesis

A

Questions about an observation

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8
Q

Theory

A

A well-supported explanation based on lots of evidence

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9
Q

Law (science)

A

A detailed description of how something happens, usually supported by math

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10
Q

Dependant Variable

A

The thing that is effected or caused to occur
- the phenomenon we’re interested in

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11
Q

Independent variable

A

The variable that is expected to cause the behaviour

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12
Q

Operational definition

A

A description of a variable in themes of the operations used to establish or measure that variable
- Precise
- Practical
- Quantitative
- Good interobserver reliability

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13
Q

Histogram

A

A graphical representation of ranges of a variable, like a bar graph, but shows a continuity

We like this in psychology

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14
Q

Gaussian distribution (both normal and uniform)

A

the graph looks relatively the same on the left and right of the graph

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15
Q

Central Tendency

A

The most typical value of a data set
- Commonly called the average

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16
Q

Mode (statistics)

A

The value that occurs with the greatest frequency

Ex, 3,4,2,5,4,7,4,3
Mode = 4

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17
Q

What are the pros of using the mode? (Statistics)

A
  • Works well with nominal frequency data (not numbers) ex. Dominant handedness of people
  • Can produce sensible values
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18
Q

What are the cons of using the mode? (Statistics)

A
  • Dependent on how you “bin” data
  • Low sampling stability (fluctuates a lot from sample to sample)
  • May not exist for certain data sets (Could have multiple modes or none at all)
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19
Q

Median

A

The middle number in an ordered set of data
- If it’s an odd number, find the middle two and take the mean of them

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20
Q

What is the pro of using the median

A

Robust to extreme values

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21
Q

Mean (statistics)

A

Add all the values together and divide by how many values there are

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22
Q

Advantages of using the mean? (Statistics)

A

Best sampling stability
Works with many statistical methods

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23
Q

Cons of using the mean? (Statistics)

A
  • Value may not exist in the real world
  • Assumes data is on, at least, an interval measurement scale
  • Heavily affected by extreme values
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24
Q

Is an average an accurate representation of the group?

A

No, you need to look at the whole data set

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25
Q

How do you find standard deviation?

A

Calculate the deviations
Square them
Take the mean
Remove the square

Standard deviation = ((the sum of( x - mu )^2/N)^(1/2)

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26
Q

Skewness (statistics)

A

If the graph is skewed more to the left or right

Means and standard deviations are only useful for Normally distributed data

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27
Q

Which “average” should you use if your dataset is skewed?

A

The median

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28
Q

Do psychologists test populations or samples

A

They usually can’t test populations

29
Q

Descriptive research

A
  • Data tries not to interfere with how data arises in the real world
  • Describes characteristics of a population
30
Q

Correlational Research

A
  • Looks for relationships between variables
  • Uses descriptive research methods to obtain data on variables
31
Q

Experimental Research

A

Manipulates variables in a controlled manner to isolate causes of some phenomena

32
Q

Naturalistic Observation

A

Recording behaviour in real world settings without trying to manipulate the situation
- Have high External validity (the extent to which we can extend scientific findings to real-world settings)
- Can’t make causal inferences
- Act of observing might affect the behaviour of the observer (reactivity)

33
Q

Reactivity

A

Behaving differently when you know you’re being observed

34
Q

Case Studies (definition)

A

A research design that examines one (or a few) person in depth over an extended period of time
- Useful for existence proofs
- Often pretty biassed
- Weakest external validity
- Provides information about rare phenomena that is hard or unethical to study in labs
- Can’t establish causation

35
Q

Anecdotes

A

Short, personal experiences
- Does not establish causation
- Can be inaccurate or biassed
- May ignore contradictory claims
NOT EVIDENCE

36
Q

Surveys and Self-Reports

A

Using a questionnaire or interview to gather information about specific aspects of a participant’s background, experiences, or behaviour
- Good for collecting large sets of data
- Does not establish causation
- Can be massively influenced by how a question is worded
- Assumes that people know what they’re asking

37
Q

Positive Impression Management

A

Trying to make ourselves look better than we are

38
Q

Malingering

A

Tendency to make yourself appear psychologically disturbed to achieve some goal

39
Q

Random Sampling

A

You need to have random people to do a survey to help balance out biases. Every person within a population has an equal chance of being selected

  • Smaller surveys are more likely to be inaccurate
  • Valuable to all types of data collection
40
Q

test-retest reliability

A

When a test is readministered it should produce similar results to the first time it was administered

41
Q

What is the problem with Rorschach (ink-blot) tests?

A

It has poor test-retest and inter observer reliability

42
Q

Interobserver reliability

A

Two or more people using the same measure should arrive at the same conclusion
- Also called “interrater reliability”

43
Q

Validity

A

The extent to which a measure assesses what it purports to measure

Ex. Polygraphs (tends to give false positives)

44
Q

Type I Error

A

False Positive

“…[When] researchers conclude that the is a causal relationship between two variables when in fact there is not”

45
Q

Type II Error

A

False negative

“…[When] researchers conclude that there it not a causal relationship between two variables win there is”

46
Q

The correlation coefficient (r)

A

Has a value between -1 and +1

+1 = perfect correlation (both variables have positive correlation)
0 = no correlation
-1 = perfect correlation (the variables have a negative correlation)

47
Q

Illusory Correlation

A

Perception of a statistical association between two variables where none exists

(Ex. the full moon makes people act crazy)

48
Q

Confirmation Bias

A

The tendency to seek out information that supports our hypothesis and deny other evidence

49
Q

Availability Heuristic

A

When you estimate the likelihood of an occurrence based on the ease which it comes to mind

50
Q

The Third Variable

A

Two variables may be related to one another only because of a third variable

51
Q

Observational Study

A

Researchers watch people in two groups (cannot establish causation)

52
Q

Experimental Study

A

Researchers randomly assign people to groups (can establish causation)

53
Q

Why does data fluctuate across data sets?

A

All possible variables cannot be controlled
Ex. Learning experience, genetics, imperfect measuring tools
This makes unsystematic error

54
Q

What does something need to be statistical significant?

A

If they obtain a “p-value” less than 0.05
- Often doesn’t matter as much as people think

55
Q

Random Assignment

A

Randomly sorting subjects into the experiment’s groups

(Not the same as random sampling, which has more to do with hoe subjects are chosen)

56
Q

Confounding variables

A

Any difference between the experimental and control groups other than the independent variable

57
Q

The Placebo Effect

A

“Placebo” - I shall please

When people believe something good will happen, they are more likely to feel it happening

58
Q

The Nocebo Effect

A

Feeling negative effects because they are told there will be some

Belief that an otherwise harmless thing is harmful can make it harmful to you

Ex. Mass Psychogenic Illness

59
Q

How many standard deviations hold 99.7% of data in a normal distribution?

A

3

60
Q

How many standard deviations hold 95% of data in a normal distribution?

A

2

61
Q

How many standard deviations hold 68% of data in a normal distribution?

A

1

62
Q

Negative skew

A

Skewed left
-long tail points left

63
Q

Symmetrical Data

A

Symmetric normal
-tails are balanced

64
Q

Positive skew

A

Skewed right
-long tail points right

65
Q

Correlational designs

A

used to examine the relationship between variables

66
Q

Does the p-value really tell you if an experiment is valid or not?

A

Nope

67
Q

Confounding variable

A

Any difference between the experimental and control groups other than the independent variable

68
Q

Double-blinding

A

When neither the researchers nor the subjects are aware of who’s in the experimental or control groups

69
Q
A

Psychology 104 (10 decks)

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