Week 1 Flashcards
Empirical Methods
Approaches to inquiry that are tied to actual measurement and observations
Ethics
Professional guidelines that offer researchers a template for making decisions that protect research participants from potential harm and that help steer scientists away from conflicts of interest or other situations that might compromise the integrity of their research.
Hypotheses
Logical ideas that can be tested
Systematic Observation
Observation of the natural world with the aim to better understand it, the ‘core of science’
Theories
Groups of closely related phenomena or observations
Anecdotal Evidence
A piece of biased evidence, usually drawn from personal experience, is used to support a conclusion that may or may not be correct
Causality
In research, the determination that one variable causes/is responsible for an effect
Correlation
In statistics, the measure of relatedness of two or more variables
Data
Information systematically collected for analysis and interpretation
Deductive Reasoning
A form of reasoning in which a given premise determines the interpreation of specific observations
Distribution
The relative frequency at a particular value occurs for each possible value of a given variable, the pattern of variation in data
Falsify
The ability of a claim to be tested and possibly refuted, a defining feature of science
Generalize
The degree to which one can extend conclusions drawn from the findings of a study to other groups or situations not included in the study
Induction
To draw general conclusions from specific observations
Level of analysis
Complementary understanding and explanations of phenomena
Probability
The measure of the degree of certainty of the occurrence of an event, determining whether a given value occurs by chance
Pseudoscience
Beliefs or practices that are presented as being scientific, but are not scientific
Null Hypothesis
A statement that says nothing is happening or there is no difference between groups. It’s used in experiments to test whether something new (like a treatment) actually works. If the data shows a big enough difference, the null hypothesis gets rejected
Statistical Significance
Indicates whether an observed affect is likely to be due to chance
Behaviourism
The study of behaviour
Cognitive Psychology
The study of mental processes
Empiricism
The belief that knowledge comes from experience
Flashbulb Memory
A highly detailed a vivid memory of an emotionally significant event
Functionalism
A theory that focuses on how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment. Purpose of behaviours and thoughts rather than just their structure, the function of the mind in real-life situations.
Gestalt Psychology
An attempt to study the unity of experience
Introspection
A method of focusing on internal processes
Pschophysics
A point of view that emphasizes the importance of the senses in providing knowledge of the external world
Structuralism
That sought to describe the elements of conscious experience
