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

The Basics of Science and Experiments in Psychology Flashcards

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
How do you find standard deviation?
Calculate the deviations Square them Take the mean Remove the square Standard deviation = ((the sum of( x - mu )^2/N)^(1/2)
26
Skewness (statistics)
If the graph is skewed more to the left or right Means and standard deviations are only useful for Normally distributed data
27
Which "average" should you use if your dataset is skewed?
The median
28
Do psychologists test populations or samples
They usually can't test populations
29
Descriptive research
- Data tries not to interfere with how data arises in the real world - Describes characteristics of a population
30
Correlational Research
- Looks for relationships between variables - Uses descriptive research methods to obtain data on variables
31
Experimental Research
Manipulates variables in a controlled manner to isolate causes of some phenomena
32
Naturalistic Observation
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
Reactivity
Behaving differently when you know you're being observed
34
Case Studies (definition)
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
Anecdotes
Short, personal experiences - Does not establish causation - Can be inaccurate or biassed - May ignore contradictory claims NOT EVIDENCE
36
Surveys and Self-Reports
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
Positive Impression Management
Trying to make ourselves look better than we are
38
Malingering
Tendency to make yourself appear psychologically disturbed to achieve some goal
39
Random Sampling
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
test-retest reliability
When a test is readministered it should produce similar results to the first time it was administered
41
What is the problem with Rorschach (ink-blot) tests?
It has poor test-retest and inter observer reliability
42
Interobserver reliability
Two or more people using the same measure should arrive at the same conclusion - Also called “interrater reliability”
43
Validity
The extent to which a measure assesses what it purports to measure Ex. Polygraphs (tends to give false positives)
44
Type I Error
False Positive "...[When] researchers conclude that the is a causal relationship between two variables when in fact there is not"
45
Type II Error
False negative "...[When] researchers conclude that there it not a causal relationship between two variables win there is"
46
The correlation coefficient (r)
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
Illusory Correlation
Perception of a statistical association between two variables where none exists (Ex. the full moon makes people act crazy)
48
Confirmation Bias
The tendency to seek out information that supports our hypothesis and deny other evidence
49
Availability Heuristic
When you estimate the likelihood of an occurrence based on the ease which it comes to mind
50
The Third Variable
Two variables may be related to one another only because of a third variable
51
Observational Study
Researchers watch people in two groups (cannot establish causation)
52
Experimental Study
Researchers randomly assign people to groups (can establish causation)
53
Why does data fluctuate across data sets?
All possible variables cannot be controlled Ex. Learning experience, genetics, imperfect measuring tools This makes unsystematic error
54
What does something need to be statistical significant?
If they obtain a “p-value” less than 0.05 - Often doesn’t matter as much as people think
55
Random Assignment
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
Confounding variables
Any difference between the experimental and control groups other than the independent variable
57
The Placebo Effect
“Placebo” - I shall please When people believe something good will happen, they are more likely to feel it happening
58
The Nocebo Effect
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
How many standard deviations hold 99.7% of data in a normal distribution?
3
60
How many standard deviations hold 95% of data in a normal distribution?
2
61
How many standard deviations hold 68% of data in a normal distribution?
1
62
Negative skew
Skewed left -long tail points left
63
Symmetrical Data
Symmetric normal -tails are balanced
64
Positive skew
Skewed right -long tail points right
65
Correlational designs
used to examine the relationship between variables
66
Does the p-value really tell you if an experiment is valid or not?
Nope
67
Confounding variable
Any difference between the experimental and control groups other than the independent variable
68
Double-blinding
When neither the researchers nor the subjects are aware of who's in the experimental or control groups
69

Psychology 104 (10 decks)

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