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Research Methods > The Scientific Method > Flashcards

The Scientific Method Flashcards

1
Q

Psychology as Science

A
  • science of mental life

- involved w/exploring basis/impact of mental states (ie. personality) or dynamic mental processes (ie. memory)

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2
Q

Psychology as Science (Example)

A
  • eg. “Does absence make the heart grow fonder?”
  • not enough to make informal observations (“lay scientists”); opinions are natural but inevitably make unique opinions due to different info/agendas/experiences
  • to know WHEN/WHY the statement is correct involves SCIENTIFIC METHOD; differentiates psych from lay methods
  • procedure of SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION/EXPERIMENTATION (via empirical methods)
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3
Q

Principles of Scientific Approach

A
  • DETERMINISM/DISCOVERABILITY
  • SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION/EXPERIMENTATION
  • FINDING PUBLIC/VERFIABLE KNOWLEDGE
  • DATA-BASED/TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS
  • ASKING ANSWERABLE/EPIRICAL QUESTIONS
  • DEVELOPING FALSIFIABLE EXPLANATIONS/THEORIES
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4
Q

PSA: Determinism/Discoverability

A
  • all events have causes which can be discovered
  • determinism ISN’T that all events are “pre-determined”
  • PROBABILISTIC DETERMINISM = events are predictable, but not indefinitely
  • cause (X) —> effect (Y)
  • determinism doesn’t cancel free will or vice versa; SOMETIMES we consider consequences of actions before behaviour takes place based on perceived probability of desired outcome
  • CARNAP (1928); impossible to make choice w/o cause as it involves preference; if alternatives can’t be foreseen, it’s not a choice
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5
Q

PSA: Systematic Observations/Experimentation

A
  • precise definitions, reliable/valid measuring tools and acceptable methodologies yield interpretable data, from which conclusions are made via logic systems to fit into theory
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6
Q

PSA: Finding Public/Verifiable Knowledge

A
  • verifiable for 2/+ observers

- terms/procedures precisely defined so replication is easy

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7
Q

PSA: Data-Based/Tentative Conclusions

A
  • conclusions via data NOT opinions
  • natural questioning of data
  • GALTON (1872); ultimate data-driven approach; the unscientific use amalgamation of emotional experience to make decision (ie. does prayer work); the scientific scrutinise events and compare via methodological system before declaring it evidence
  • DAMASIO (1994); scepticism about all conclusions doesn’t disregard new work; tentativeness is healthy as it shows self-awareness of human error
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8
Q

PSA: Asking Answerable/Empirical Questions

A
  • answered via data (aka. “does belief in God increase w/age?” NOT “does God exist?”)
  • require OPERATIONALISATION:
    IE. “Does the way you speak affect how other people treat you?”
  • “the way you speak” = content/tone/accent/gestures/speed?
  • “affect” = direct/indirect/short-term/long-term/immediate/gradual?
  • “other people” = relationship to target?
  • “treat you” = what they say/think/do?
    NEW. “Are the people who use a pronunciation stereotypically associated w/disadvantaged backgrounds during an interview less likely to get a job offer than those who use a standard pronunciation?”
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9
Q

PSA: Developing Falsifiable Explanations/Theories

A
  • HYPOTHESES (predicted research outcomes); deduced from THEORIES (explanations of phenomena)
  • FALSIFIABLE theories can principally either be supported/unsupported by data
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10
Q

Goals of Psychological Research

A
  • DESCRIPTION
  • PREDICTION
  • EXPLANATION; X causes Y if:
  • X = experimentally varied/extraneous factors are controlled/alternatives rules out/Y variations predicted from X variations/explaining Y via X fits some theory
  • APPLICATION
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11
Q

QGR: Validity

A
  • correct/valid interpretation of observed outcomes
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12
Q

QGR: Reliability

A
  • confidence that findings can be replicated constantly and not chance occurrence
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13
Q

Qualities of Good Research

A
  • RELIABILITY
  • VALIDITY
  • PUBLIC
  • CUMULATIVE
  • PARSIMONY
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14
Q

QGR: Public Quality

A
  • exposes rationale/methods/conclusions to others for verification via peer review process which allows data to be cumulative
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15
Q

QGR: Cumulative Quality

A
  • builds upon existing knowledge/theory; haphazard info isn’t enough; must develop previous insights
  • think Newton’s “standing on the shoulders of giants”
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16
Q

QGR: Parsimony

A
  • the idea that theories must provide simplest/most economical/efficient facts; a theory that explains 2 phenomenon is better than one that explains 1 (does absence make the heart grow fonder/wander?)
17
Q

QGR: Parsimony (Example)

A

THEORY A: “MOTIVATED NOSTALGIA”
- separation causes exaggeration of object’s merit; motivation via positive past memories; explains “absence makes the heart grow fonder”
THEORY B: “PHYSICAL REINFORCEMENT THEORY”
- separation causes object devaluation; attraction predicted via physical reinforcement; explains “absence makes the heart wander”
THEORY C: “DISTORTED MEMORY THEORY”
- separation causes exaggeration of objects qualities, regardless of their nature; memory magnifies the past; explains both “absence makes the heart wander/grow fonder”; preferable as uses fewer principles

18
Q

Research from Theory

A
  • progress needs more than fact count
  • IE. findings of “unhappiness via separation from loved ones” and “apathy via separation from one’s disliked” must be integrated w/ comprehensive/unitary theories; have to say WHY AND WHAT
19
Q

RFT: Theories

A
  • statements summarising/organising knowledge of phenomenon into variable relationships
  • manuscripts are rejected not because of stats but because they don’t contribute to human theory
  • IE. “separation from loved ones enhances love as separation exaggerates (good) memories” is a theory as it explains AND describes separation/emotion relationship
  • generalise for multiple facts/make predictions for novel situations
  • IE. can hypothesise that memory disorders (ie. Alzheimer’s) lessen extreme separation appraisals; phenomenon is less profound, so lesser emotional arousal
20
Q

RFT: Process

A
  • THEORY: precise/falsifiable/parsimonious explanation
  • DEDUCTION/HYPOTHESIS: if theory is valid, get hypothesis from observation
  • DESIGN STUDY
  • DATA ANALYSIS: statistics
  • CONSISTENCY DETERMINATION W/HYPOTHESIS
  • INDUCTIVE SUPPORT/UNSUPPORTED: if supported, it isn’t proven; theory only explains facts; if unsupported, check for errors (ie. poor instructions/sample issues); change and repeat; only change hypothesis if fails multiple times
  • FURTHER TESTING: go to next logical hypotheses
21
Q

Alternative Research Development

A
  • OBSERVATIONS: don’t overdo/anecdote it; still systematic as experiments
  • SERENDIPITY: right place at right time
  • EVERYDAY ISSUES: “applied” psych
  • REPLICATION/EXTENSION: crisis in psych research
  • DEVELOPING OTHERS WORK: test someone’s explanation against an alternative based on own opinions; adapt their methods/procedures for other issues

Research Methods (10 decks)

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