Research methods and stats - revision 2 Flashcards
Describe the placebo effect?
improvements based on thinking positively about results rather than the actual treatment
What is hypothesis testing?
Generate a hypothesis to explain phenomenon and that compare to facts.
What is flasification?
Karl Popper - researchers actively try to falsify their hypotheses
Describe the Duhem-Quine principle
A hypothesis cannot be tested in isolation from other assumptions
What are the basic assumptions of science?
There is uniformity or regularity in nature. The reality of nature and discoverability.
The assumption of Uniformity and regularity in nature is based on
determinism - all mental processes and behaviors are caused by natural factors.
probabilistic causes - A weaker form of determinism - (causes that usually but may not always occur)
The assumption of the reality of nature is
that the things we hear, smell and touch, taste are real.
The assumption of discoverability is
that it is possible to discover regularities in nature and discover pieces of the puzzle that fit together.
Why are assumptions needed?
to understand, explain, and collect knowledge.
develop theories or laws or generalizations.
Why do we control for confounding variables?
for unambiguous answers for cause and event
What is replication?
Results from one study are replicated in new studies, thereby making the results more reliable.
Reasons for a failure to replicate
the effect does not exist, not the exact same conditions or different context
Metaanalysis
quantitative method identifying relationships across many studies
Experimental method vs descriptive research
Experimental deals with cause and effect
Descriptive deals with events, situations, phenomena
quantitative research vs qualitative studies
Quantitative research collects numerical data e.g ratings of intelligence, timed responses etc.
Qualitative research is non-numerical e.g records, statements, interviews