Unit 2: Scientific Method

Question 1

6 Ways of Knowing:

Answer 1

• Ask authorities
• Take a vote
• Intuition
• Faith
• Personal experience
• Science

Question 2

The Scientific Method:

Answer 2

The scientific method is a self-correcting process of asking questions and answering the questions by conducting research.

Question 3

Theory:

Answer 3

A theory is a coherent network of explanatory ideas, which leads to hypotheses, which lead to research. If the findings support the hypotheses then confidence in the theory increases. If findings do not support hypotheses, then confidence in the theory decreases, then you would discard the theory or revise and refine the theory and start the process over

Question 4

Different Research Methods:

Answer 4

• Case Study
• Naturalistic Observation
• Survey Research
• Experiment

Question 5

Case Study:

Answer 5

A detailed analysis of a single individual

Question 6

Naturalistic Observation:

Answer 6

Observing and recording behavior as it naturally occurs in real life

Question 7

Survey Research:

Answer 7

Study of beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors based on people’s answers to questions.

Importance of a random sample in survey research

Question 8

Random Sample:

Answer 8

• Each member of the population must have an equal chance of being included in the study
• Represents the population
• Allows you to generalize findings from sample to population

Question 9

Correlation:

Answer 9

A measure of the relationship between two variables

*Case study, naturalistic observation and survey research can only provide clear information about correlation not causation.

Question 10

Negative correlation:

Answer 10

• the more X, the less Y

* the less X, the more Y

Question 11

Positive correlation:

Answer 11

• the more X, the more Y

* the less X, the less Y

Question 12

Zero correlation:

Answer 12

•no relationship between X and Y

Question 13

When X is correlated with Y, it may be that:

Answer 13

1) X causes Y
2) Y causes X
3) A third variable causes both X and Y
The Problem: Which one is correct? Don’t know.
Can’t draw causal conclusions from correlational data. Can’t draw causal conclusions from case study, naturalistic observation and survey research.

Question 14

The Experiment:

Answer 14

Researcher manipulates the independent variable(s) and observes how this affects the dependent variable(s)

Question 15

3 Crucial Ingredients in experiments:

Answer 15

1. Manipulating the independent variable(s)
2. Measuring the dependent variable(s)
3. Random assignment

Question 16

Independent Variable (IV):

Answer 16

The variable the researcher changes or controls to see if it has a causal effect on the dependent variable

Question 17

Dependent Variable (DV):

Answer 17

The variable the researcher measures to see if it is affected by the independent variable

Question 18

Random Assignment:

Answer 18

• Assigning participants to different IV groups so that each person has an equal chance of being assigned to any of the groups
• Makes the groups as similar as possible before we manipulate the IV

Question 19

Example of Random Assignment:

Answer 19

• Flip coin for each participant in the study
• If they get heads, researcher will put participant in Group 1
• If they get tails, researcher will put participant in Group 2

Question 20

Advantages of The Experiment:

Answer 20

•Most powerful method because it allows us to determine cause & effect.

Question 21

Disadvantages of The Experiment:

Answer 21

• What happens in experiments may not reflect what happens in the real world.
• Some variables may be impossible or unethical to manipulate.

Question 22

Cover Story:

Answer 22

• A brief description of the purpose of the study
• Given to participants at the beginning of the research
• May be different from the true purpose of the study
• Used to get participants in the right frame of mind for the study (e.g., enhancing their involvement in the study)

Question 23

Ethics in Research:

Answer 23

First set of guidelines published in 1958 by APA
•Later revisions in 1972, 1992, 2002
•Don’t harm your participants (physically, psychologically, emotionally, etc.)
•Get approval from an Institutional Review Board, which judges whether the research follows ethical guidelines, and whether the risks to participants are greater than potential gains of the research
•As much as possible, describe the procedures to participants before they take part in the study
•Obtain informed consent from participants that documents their agreement to take part in the study given the information provided
•Debrief participants at the end (tell them what the study is about)
•Let participants know that they are free to withdraw from the study at any point
•All information collected must be held in strict confidence

Question 24

Hypothesis:

Answer 24

specific predictions derived from the theory