[Week 2] Thinking like a Psychological Scientist

Question 1

anecdotal evidence

Answer 1

a piece of biased evidence, usually drawn from personal experience, used to support a conclusion that may or may not be correct

Question 2

causality

Answer 2

In research, the determination that one variable causes an effect

Question 3

correlation

Answer 3

In statistics, the measure of relatedness of two or more variables

Question 4

data

Answer 4

In research, information systematically collected for analysis and interpretation

Question 5

deductive reasoning

Answer 5

general to specific

Question 6

distribution

Answer 6

probability of occurrence of different outcomes for an experiment

Question 7

empirical

Answer 7

Concerned with observation and/or the ability to verify a claim.

Question 8

fact

Answer 8

Objective information about the world.

Question 9

falsify

Answer 9

the ability of a claim to be tested and refuted

Question 10

generalize

Answer 10

In research, 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.

Question 11

hypothesis

Answer 11

A tentative explanation that is subject to testing.

Question 12

induction

Answer 12

specific to general

Question 13

inductive reasoning

Answer 13

specific to general

Question 14

levels of analysis

Answer 14

In science, there are complementary understandings and explanations of phenomena.

Question 15

null-hypothesis significance testing (NHST)

Answer 15

statistical inference that an experimental factor is tested against a hypothesis with no relationship based on a given observation

Question 16

objective

Answer 16

being free of personal bias

Question 17

population

Answer 17

In research, all the people belonging to a particular group (e.g., the population of left handed people).

Question 18

probability

Answer 18

chance of an event occurring

Question 19

probability values

Answer 19

(p-value) probability of obtaining test results as extreme as results observed (under assumption that null hypothesis is correct)

Question 20

pseudoscience

Answer 20

beliefs presented as scientific, but are not (e.g. Astrology)

Question 21

representative

Answer 21

the degree that a sample is reflective of the population

Question 22

sample

Answer 22

number of people selected from a population

Question 23

scientific theory

Answer 23

An explanation for observed phenomena that is empirically well-supported, consistent, and fruitful (predictive).

Question 24

Type I error

Answer 24

rejecting a true null hypothesis

Question 25

Type II error

Answer 25

approving null hypothesis when it is false

Question 26

value

Answer 26

Belief about the way things should be.

Question 27

accuracy

Answer 27

explanations and theories match real-world observation

Question 28

consistency

Answer 28

a theory has few exceptions and shows agreement with other theories within and across disciplines

Question 29

scope

Answer 29

extent to which a theory extends beyond currently available data, explaining a wide array of phenomena

Question 30

simplicity

Answer 30

when multiple explanations are equally good at explaining the data, the simplest should be selected

Question 31

fruitfulness

Answer 31

usefulness of a theory in guiding new research