Unit 1: Introduction to Research in Psychology Flashcards
What are the key characteristics of the scientific approach?
- Systematic empiricism
- Exploration of empirical questions
- Creates public knowledge
Systematic empiricism
Learning based on systematic observations of the natural world through careful planning, making, recording and analyzing these observations
Empirical questions
Questions about how the world actually is; can be answered through systematic observations.
Does not include questions about values or how the world ought to be; such as if something is good or bad, beautiful or ugly.
Public knowledge - the role it plays in the scientific approach
Researchers publish their findings for the public to read, interpret, and question. Publication is a key characteristic of the scientific approach because:
- Science is a social process, a collaboration of researchers from across disciplines and time
- It allows science to be self-correcting; other researchers to identify flaws and suggest improvements
Pseudoscience
- Is presented as science by it’s proponents, and appears scientific on the surface
- Is not science, because it does not have at least 1 of the 3 characteristics of science
Model of Scientific Research in Psychology
Cyclical in nature, flows from: Research question to Empirical study to Data analysis to Conclusions to Research literature
Most research questions are inspired and/or refined by research literature
Basic research
Aims to provide better understanding of human behaviour, without trying to solve a specific problem
Research for its own sake
Applied research
Aims to solve a specific problem applicable to the practical world
Folk psychology
Beliefs about people’s behaviour, thoughts and feelings, based on intuition or common sense
Often is inaccurate
Confirmation bias
The bias where people tend to focus on examples that confirm intuitive beliefs, while disregarding examples that disconfirm them
Skepticism
Considering alternative explanations and searching for empirical evidence before accepting a claim to be true
Tolerance for uncertainty
Acceptance that there are many things we cannot know due to lack of empirical evidence
Clinical practice of psychology
Diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and related problems
Can include clinical, counselling, and school psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and clinical social workers
Empirically supported treatments
Studies show the treatment has greater results than no treatment, placebo, or an alternative treatment
Includes CBT, exposure, behavioural, and family therapies
Variable
A quantity or quality that varies across people or situations
Quantitative variable
A quantity measured by a number, such as height
Categorical variable
A variable measured by assigning a category, such as nationality or occupation
Operational definition
A definition about how a variable is to be specifically measured
Statistical relationship
The relationship between two variables such that the average scores of one differs systematically compared to the other
Differences between groups
Described by mean score and standard deviation for each group
Can be presented in a bar graph
Correlations between quantitative variables
Average score of one variable differs systematically across the levels of the other
Often measured by statistic called Pearson’s r (only good for measuring linear relationships, not for curved lines)
Independent variable
The variable the experimenter manipulates or changes
In causal relationships, the variable that is thought to be the cause
Often referred to as X
Dependent variable
The variable being tested and measured in an experiment, and is ‘dependent’ on the independent variable
In causal relationships, the variable that is thought to be the effect
Often referred to as Y
2 reasons correlation doesn’t imply causation
- Directionality problem: does X cause Y, or does Y cause X?
- Third-variable problem: does correlation exist due to an unknown 3rd variable?
How to evaluate research questions
- Interestingness: Does the question seek to answer something that is currently in doubt? Fills a gap in research literature? Has a practical application?
- Feasibility: Can the question be successfully answered? Logistics, technical knowledge, access to research equipment and relevant participants
TCPS 2
Tri-Council Policy Statement of Ethical Conduct
Core principles of TCPS 2
- Respect for Persons: respecting autonomy of participants via free, informed, and ongoing consent, while protecting those incapable of exercising autonomy (ie. youth, cognitively impaired, mentally ill)
- Concern for Welfare: Ensuring participants are not exposed to unnecessary risks, privacy and confidentiality is maintained, and can assess risks and potential benefits
- Justice: Obligation to treat people fairly, equitably (considering vulnerability of participants), ensuring historically marginalized groups are not unjustly excluded
4 Approaches to Knowledge
- Common sense; sometimes is supported by research, sometimes isn’t. Usually isn’t precise or consistent.
- Appeal to authority; doctors, lawyers, politicians, scientists. Can be wrong or intentionally misleading.
- Personal insight or faith; if your experience differs from another, can’t determine whose belief is correct. Difficult to verify independently.
- Scientific method; external validation is tested through replication of experiments
