Research Methods/Statistics Flashcards
Describe tenacity.
Belief-based explanations
– “It is the way it is because I SAY SO”
– “Everyone knows it is true” (False consensus effect)
Tenacious beliefs are extremely resistant to modification
by evidence.
Examples:
•Ghosts, validity of horoscopes, concept of luckiness,
superstitions.
•Gender, racial, disability stereotypes
Describe authoritative methods of belief.
“It is the way it is because HE SAYS SO”
• Accepting something as true simply because someone in a position of authority says it is true.
• Examples: Parents, Respected elders, Media, Governments, Religions, Lecturers etc.
Describe belief through pure reason.
“It is the way it is because it logically must be that way”
• A priori method
Advantages: Social contracts, laws etc.
which do not stem from empirical evidence
Disadvantages: Inability to resolve
arguments when they occur
Describe the scientific method belief.
Conclusions should be based on
evidence which is:
• Empirical: information gathered from experience, observation, experimentation.
• Objective: information gathered is free from bias.
What is a pseudoscience?
a claim, belief or practise which is presented as scientific, but does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status
– Characterized by the use of vague, contradictory,
exaggerated or un-testable claims
What was the psychoanalyst movement?
Based on introspection.
What was the behaviourist movement?
Based on observable behaviour.
What is the cognitive movement?
Don’t need direct observation, make predictions and subject them to empirical verification.
What is induction?
evidence is gathered from multiple observations
Describe Karl Poppers falsifiable theory.
Science starts with theories which are subject to scrutiny
• If the evidence contradicts our theory, we formulate an
alternative
• If the evidence supports our theory, we regard it is an
undefeated theory
What is Bayesianism?
Bayesians – beliefs come in degrees
• The likelihood of future events can be expressed on
the basis of past knowledge
– e.g. it is likely that 90% of 1st Years will pass PSYC10100
• Revise probability predictions when faced with
evidence in support or against your theory
• Provides a measure of a state of knowledge
What is the Hypothetico-Deductive Method?
observation - theory - hypothesis - empirical tests - results
What is Methodological pluralism?
Use of multiple methods.
What is Methodological triangulation?
convergence of the findings of methodologically varying studies can lend credence to the theory pattern
What does Parsimonious mean?
Is the explanation the simplest possible?
Occam’s razor
What is a construct?
Theoretical concepts formulated to serve as
causal or descriptive explanations
– e.g. Psychosis: a mental state characterised by a
“loss of contact with reality” (DSM IV)
• Don’t directly indicate a means by which they can be
measured
What is the difference between a construct and a variable?
Constructs defined by theoretical definitions
– e.g.: Psychosis: a mental state characterised by a
“loss of contact with reality”
• Variables defined by operational definitions
– e.g.: contact with reality “defined” by a score on a
questionnaire
• Constructs defined by theoretical definitions
– e.g.: Intelligence: The capacity to acquire and apply
knowledge; the faculty of thought and reason
• Variables defined by operational definitions
– e.g.: score on a standardised test of intelligence (for
example, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale)
What is nominal data?
Categorical.
e.g. gender, political party, religion
What is orbital data?
ranked or ordered.
data can be ranked along a continuum
intervals between ranks are not equal
e.g. race positions, attractiveness
