Exam 3 Study Guide

Question 1

Hypotheses

Answer 1

conjectures about the causes involved in observed phenomena

Question 2

Hypothetical Reasoning

Answer 2

the inductive process used to generate hypotheses and apply them to observable phenomena

Question 3

Hypothetical Method

Answer 3

the construction of hypotheses used to provide ways to conceptualize data and to suggest ways to test conjectures

Question 4

Empirical Hypotheses

Answer 4

hypotheses which concern the production of some thing or the occurrence of some event that can be observed

Question 5

Theoretical Hypotheses

Answer 5

hypotheses which concern how something should be conceptualized

Question 6

Direct Observation

Answer 6

requires using your normal senses to gather empirical evidence

Question 7

Indirect Observation

Answer 7

requires using tools that make things otherwise invisible or unperceivable available to our normal senses

Question 8

Adequacy

Answer 8

the extent to which a hypothesis fits the facts it is intended to unify or explain

Question 9

Inadequacy

Answer 9

the extent to which a hypothesis fails to fit the facts

Question 10

Accuracy

Answer 10

the extent to which the hypothesis accounts for a set of data as compared with other hypotheses

Question 11

Inaccuracy

Answer 11

the extent to which the hypothesis fails to account for a set of data as compared with other hypotheses

Question 12

Internal Coherence

Answer 12

the extent to which the component ideas of a hypothesis are rationally interconnected

Question 13

Incoherence

Answer 13

the extent to which a hypothesis fails to connect its component ideas

Question 14

External Consistency

Answer 14

the extent to which a hypothesis agrees (or fails to disagree) with other, well-confirmed hypotheses

Question 15

Inconsistency

Answer 15

the extent to which a hypothesis disagrees with other, well-confirmed hypotheses

Question 16

Fruitfulness

Answer 16

the extent to which a hypothesis suggests new ideas for future analysis and confirmation

Question 17

Fruitlessness

Answer 17

the extent to which a hypothesis fails to suggest new ideas for future analysis and confirmation

Question 18

Opinion

Answer 18

beliefs which are uncertain, are confined to the particular, inexact, or are subject to change

Question 19

Knowledge

Answer 19

justified true belief; beliefs which are certain, universal, exact, and eternally true

Question 20

1. Evidentiary Support
2. Objectivity
3. Integrity

Answer 20

criteria for science

Question 21

Post Hoc Propter Hoc Fallacy (False Cause)

Answer 21

the fallacy of believing a thing is a cause when it is not a cause

Question 22

Testimonial Evidence

Answer 22

the word of someone or something, rather than observation

Question 23

Replicability

Answer 23

the ability of the experiment to be repeated by different scientists at different times and places under controlled conditions

Question 24

Falsifiability

Answer 24

being framed narrowly enough so that it forbids certain things from happening

Question 25

Disconfirmability

Answer 25

being framed narrowly enough so that it is possible for evidence to count against it

Question 26

Ad Hoc Modifications

Answer 26

– modifications added onto the hypothesis after disconfirming evidence is discovered just to force the original hypothesis to fit the data

Question 27

Ockham’s Razor

Answer 27

the belief that theoretical entities should not be multiplied needlessly, and that naturalistic explanations based on known realities are preferable (at least initially) to supernatural or bizarre explanations

Question 28

Predictability

Answer 28

the ability to generate predictions about the world which can be confirmed or disconfirmed themselves

Question 29

Objective Beliefs

Answer 29

beliefs which are unaffected by conditions peculiar to the experiencing subject, whether motivational or observational

Question 30

Magical Thinking

Answer 30

a fascination with the mysterious, the arcane, and the occult; a preference for magical explanations than scientific ones

Question 31

Placebo Effect

Answer 31

a fake cure without the knowledge of the patient, but with a suggestion that it is in fact a cure

Question 32

Pareidolia

Answer 32

the effect by which we derive images from visual static, such as clouds, smoke, textures, and other random visual stimuli

Question 33

Perceptual Set

Answer 33

the tendency to perceive what we expect to perceive in familiar situations

Question 34

Autokinetic Effect

Answer 34

the tendency to perceive a small, stationary light surrounded by darkness as if it were in motion

Question 35

Hypnagogic Hallucinations

Answer 35

extremely vivid, emotionally charged images that seem very real which occur just before drifting off to sleep

Question 36

Hypnopompic Hallucinations

Answer 36

extremely vivid, emotionally charged images that seem very real which occur just before awakening

Question 37

Confabulation

Answer 37

the tendency to fill in the gaps of memory with false information when trying to produce a coherent account

Question 38

Integrity

Answer 38

honesty in gathering and presenting evidence and honest, logical thinking when responding to theoretical problems