Week 2.2 Flashcards
Scientific theories are based in methodology and have what 3 key elements?
- Testable
- Replicable
- Valid
How do beliefs differ from science?
- Not based in science.
- Important in some ways; provides guidance, connection and a faith system.
What is the observational approach to experiments?
Pros / Cons
- Watching individuals in an environment; naturalistic or lab based.
Pros: study actual behaviour.
Cons: observer bias / effect.
What is the experimental approach to experiments?
Pros / Cons
- Examination of behavioural causes.
- Typical design; experimental group, control / comparison group.
Pros: study interventions, controlled.
Cons: elaborate, recruitment is hard, replicability / validity of results, some behaviour hard to evaluate.
What are surveys or questionnaires?
Pros / Cons
- Population data.
- Information collected from large groups can identify: trends, opinions, cultural and social differences.
Pros: quick, lots of data.
Cons: often anonymous, bots, poor quality.
What is meta-analysis?
Pros / Cons
- Combines results of multiple published and unpublished studies.
- Allows identification of trends among results, and areas of discrepancy.
Pros: healthy agreement / disagreement, big pic perspective of field.
Cons: potential for publication bias.
Qualitative versus Quantitative?
Qualitative: textual data (words).
e.g., thoughts, opinions, histories; interviews, focus groups.
Quantitative: numerical data, quantifiable variables.
e.g., questionnaires, reaction times, etc.
What does a longitudinal design do?
Pros / Cons
- Tracks a cohort across a span of time.
Pros: allows developmental implications, very rich data.
Cons: long, expensive, complicated.
What does a cross-sectional design do?
Pros / Cons
- Examine a specific age group / cohort to another.
Pros: simpler, less effort, allows comparison.
Cons: cant speak on developmental trajectory, group effects, validity / reliability of results.
