What is science

Question 1

Science

Answer 1

A set of methods used to collect information about phenomena in a particular area of interest
–> science is a diverse activity involving a diverse group of people doing a wide rande of things

Question 2

Psychology as a science

Answer 2

the science of behaviour and mental processes

Question 3

Basic research

Answer 3

Goal is to acquire general information about a phenomenon with little emphasis on application to real-world examples

Question 4

Applied research

Answer 4

Goal to generate information that can be applied directly to a real-world problem

Question 5

Confirmation bias

Answer 5

The human tendency to seek out information that confirms what is already believed

Question 6

Analogy of Caldini (1994)

Answer 6

Science is like a hunting trip

1. scouting the reasearch field
2. trapping - finding factors to study and doing so

Question 7

Protoscience

Answer 7

Science on the edge of current scientific understanding

Question 8

Non science

Answer 8

Applies systematic techniques to the acquisition of information, but lacks empirical tests

Question 9

Pseudoscience

Answer 9

A set of ideas based on theories put forth as scientific when they are not scientific

Question 10

Scientific explanations need to be

Answer 10

1. Empirical
2. Rational
3. Testable
4. Parsimonious
5. General
6. Tentative/Falsifiable
7. Rigorously evaluated

Question 11

Common-sense Explanations

Answer 11

Explanations based on our own sens of what is true about thhe world around us

Question 12

Belief based explanations

Answer 12

Explanations based on beliefs from individuals or groups (trough indoctrination, upbringing or personal need)

Question 13

Method of Authority

Answer 13

using expert sources (books or people) you consider authoritative –> useful in the early stages of acquiring knowledge

Question 14

The rational method

Answer 14

depends on logical reasoning

–> Logically deduced conclusions from self-evident truths

Question 15

The scientific Method

Answer 15

Four cyclical steps to the solution of a scientific problem:

1. observing a phenomenon
2. formulating tentative explanations (hypothesis)
3. further observing and experimenting
4. refining and retesting explanations

Question 16

Deductive reasoning

Answer 16

Moves from generalized premise that is known to be true, to a true specific conclusion
–> top down reasoning

Question 17

Inductive reasoning

Answer 17

Moves from specific instances to a generalized conclusion

–> bottom up reasoning

Question 18

Steps of the research process

Answer 18

1. developing a research idea and hypothesis
2. choosing a research design
3. choosing subjects
4. deciding on what to observe and appropriate measures
5. conducting your study
6. analyzing your results
7. reporting the results
8. starting the whole process over again

Question 19

Theory

Answer 19

a plausible or scientifically acceptable, well substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena and predict the characteristics of as yet unobserved phenomena

Question 20

Hypothesis

Answer 20

tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation. Must be posed in a form that allows to be rejected

Question 21

roles of theories in science

Answer 21

-understanding
prediction
-organizing and interpreting research results
-generating research

Question 22

why use Deception in research

Answer 22

used because in some cases full disclosure of the study would invalidate the findings

Question 23

Different types of deception

Answer 23

1. active deception
2. passive deception
   - -> intentional deception
3. nonintentional deception - not fully disclosing all information

Question 24

When is it allowed to use deception

Answer 24

○ Study´s scientific, educational, or applied value
○ No harm comes to the participant
○ No other available options
○ Participants are provided with an explanation for deception asap

Question 25

reputational spillover effect

Answer 25

effect caused by deception in research, when the participant develops a negative attitude towards research and psychology as a whole

Question 26

Debriefing

Answer 26

Technique used to inform participants of the deception asap

–> Goal: to restore the participants trust and self-esteem and to make them less suspicious of other research

Question 27

examples of non ethical research

Answer 27

1. John Watson & little Albert
   - -> Study to determine if emotional responses could be learned
2. Fear or Anger by Albert Ax
   - -> Each emotion unique physiological response or common physiological response

Question 28

APA ethical guidelines

Answer 28

American psychological association

–> specifies ethical responsibilities of psychologists and code of conduct

Question 29

What constitutes Research Misconduct

Answer 29

1. Data fabrication - making up data or results and reporting on them
2. Falsification - manipulating research materials, equipment or processes or changing/omitting data
3. Plagiarism - appropriation of another person´s ideas, processes, results or words without giving apporpriate credit

Question 30

How to make science ethical

Answer 30

• grant review process
• peer review
• Replication of your results