Week 3 Learning & behavioural psychology/ principles of behaviour analysis (learning theory) Flashcards
Different types of research
Scientific methods
- Descriptive research
- Correlational research
- Experimental research
- Reliability and Validity
What is Evidence Based Practice?
Using research to inform practice
What is Descriptive Research?
Seeks to describe phenomena rather than manipulate variables, doesn’t demonstrate cause and effect, includes case studies, naturalistic observations and survey research.
What is Correlational Research?
Determines the degree to which two or more variables are related.
What is experimental research?
Strictly adheres to a scientific research design, has a hypothesis and variables that can be manipulated, measured, calculated and compared, helps to identify cause and effect.
In scientific method, what is ‘theory’?
A tentative account of how a set of observations & ideas fit together, typically designed to explain how some phenomenon arises.
In scientific method, what is ‘empiricism’?
A framework in which knowledge is generated by taking measurements of the world.
In scientific method what does ‘observable’ mean?
The relevant phenomena can be measured, either directly or indirectly.
What are the two main tasks of science?
Description - accouting for what is happening
Explanation - account for why these things happen
Effective explanation relies on accurate description
What is an independent variable?
A variable that the researcher exerts experimental control over, meaning that the researcher can dictate what level of the variable particular subjects will have, allowing for random allocation (e.g. to test group vs. control group).
What is a dependent variable?
A variable thought to be affected causally by the independent variable, whose outcome levels are measured.
What does reliability refer to?
Do the measurement procedures proposed reliably yield the same kinds of results for the same phenomena?
What does validity refer to?
Do these operations truly measure what we think they’re measuring, or are we really measuring something else?
How is reliability evaluated?
Inter-rater reliability
Test-retest reliability
Internal consistency
What is Inter-rater reliability?
have all of the likely possible confounding variables been identified, controlled, or eliminated?
