Week 2 - Sources of Info

Question 1

Describe Loftus and Pickrell’s “lost in the mall” studies?

What do they tell us about sources of info?

Answer 1

Study where participants recalled details from childhood memories
Researchers “planted” a false memory of being lost in the mall
20-40% of the time, participants adopted false memory and even elaborated on it

Perception is influenced by our personal biases

Question 2

Why is experience falsifiable, give an example?

Answer 2

No comparison group, cannot rule out confounds

Example: drinking herbal tea makes you smarter - no way to compare against you at the beginning of semester not drinking tea

Question 3

Define confound, give an example?

Answer 3

Perception is influenced by our personal biases

Example: people often think that sugar causes children to be hyperactive

Question 4

List the “five biases”?

what is the 6th one?

Answer 4

Being swayed by a good story
Availability heuristic 
Confirmation bias 
Present/present bias 
Dunning-Kruger effect
Bias blind spot

Question 5

Define: availability heuristic, confirmation bias, present/present bias, & Dunning Kruger effect

Answer 5

1. Overestimating the odds of an event because it comes easily to mind
2. Seek info that confirms your original thought - Inverts theory-data-cycle (cherry-picking)
3. Failing to consider appropriate comparison groups (they text you while your thinking abt them, but what abt all the times they didn’t)
4. People with less expertise on a topic overestimate their knowledge

Question 6

What does facial hair do to expression?

Answer 6

Beards alter facial structure, make anger more recognizable and happiness less recognizable

Question 7

What did Bushman’s studies tell us about venting?

Answer 7

600 undergrads are subjected to overly critical feedback on an essay
- sit quietly, exercise, or punch a bag
All three grps get to get back at critic with loud noises
- Grp 2 (exercise) smote him the 2nd least
- Grp 1 (quiet) smote him the least

Question 8

What is meta-analysis?

Answer 8

Results of many studies and gives a number that summarizes the magnitude, or the effect size, of a relationship.

Question 9

What are the main components of a scientific article?

Answer 9

Intro, methods, results, discussion, references