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Psychology 105 > Week 1 > Flashcards

Week 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Describe empiricism

A

Knowledge can only be acquired through observation and experiences

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2
Q

Describe the scientific method

A

A set of of principles about the appropriate relationship between ideas and evidence.

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3
Q

Theory

A

An hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon

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4
Q

Hypothesis

A

A falsifiable prediction made by a theory

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5
Q

What are the three things that make people hard to study

A
  • Reactivity
  • Complexity
  • Relativity
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6
Q

What is an operational definition

A

What we are measuring and how we will measure it. Important for measurement of observations

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7
Q

Validity

A

The extent to which a measurement and property are related (eg. Do IQ tests measure intelegence)

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8
Q

Reliability

A

The tendency for a measure to produce the same measurement when done again

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9
Q

Describe demand characteristics and ways to reduce them

A

Aspects of an observational environmental environment that cause people to react in a certain way that threatens the validity of a study. Ways to avoid this involves

1) Cover stories- False leading stories about what is being studied
2) The unrelated experiments-Having two experiments, one with the variable and one without
3) Use of nonreactive measures-Participants don’t know what’s being measured

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10
Q

Naturalistic observation

A

A technique for gathering info by unobtrusively observing people in their natural habitats

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11
Q

Observer/Researcher bias

A

Researchers results being affected because they see what they want to see

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12
Q

Double blind experiment

A

Neither the researcher nor the participant knows the true purpose of an experiment

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13
Q

Frequency distribution

A

A graphical representation of measurements arranged by the number of times each measurement was mad

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14
Q

What are descriptions

A

Graphical representations and statistics (mode, median, mean)

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15
Q

What are the three methods of research

A

Descriptive research, Correlational studies, Experimental methods

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16
Q

Describe case studies

A

In depth analysis of an individual, group, or event.

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17
Q

What are some advantages of case studies

A
  • Challenges validity of theories
  • Can illustrate effectiveness of programs for special populations
  • Useful for studying rare phenomenon
  • Source for new ideas
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18
Q

What are some disadvantages of case studies

A

-Researcher bias
-Does not establish cause-effect
Generalizability questionable

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19
Q

Why is a representative sample important

A

Because you cannot study the whole population, your sample must reflect important characteristics of a population, and random sampling must be used

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20
Q

What are surveys and what are some drawbacks

A

Questionnaires asked to people. If they are given to unrepresentative populations, this can lead to faulty generalizations. Surveys also rely on self-reports which can be faulty, and cannot draw cause-effect relationships

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21
Q

Bimodal distribution

A

Has two areas of peak frequencies. (eg. one group got high scores for attending a lecture, while one got low scores)

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22
Q

What’s the difference between normal and skewed distribution

A

Normal distribution has a mean equal to the median. The mean is affected in skewed results and it is higher than the median if the results are positively skewed, and lower if the results are negatively skewed

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23
Q

How does skewed distribution affect what measure of central tendency is used

A

Normally, mean is used, but when a distribution is skewed the median is used

24
Q

Name the two measures of dispersion

A
  • Range- The largest measurement minus the smallest measurement
  • Standard deviation- The difference between the measurements in a frequency and the mean of that distribution
25
Q

Percentile rank

A

The percentage of scores that are equal to a score or lower

26
Q

Standardized score

A

A score expressed by the number of standard deviations that the original score is from the mean

27
Q

What is a variable

A

A property whose values can vary across individuals or over time

28
Q

What is a scatterplot and it’s purpose

A

Each pair of scores is illustrated by a point on a graph, illustration the relationships between two variables

29
Q

Describe correlation

A

Two variables are correlated when a difference in one is synchronized with a difference in another. The correlation constant is (r) and the values fall from-1 to 1, with higher correlation being when the number is farther away from 0

30
Q

Give an example of a correlational study

A

Correlation constant between studying on a test and test score is 0.8, meaning there is a high correlation, while the correlation between height and test score is -0.05, meaning there’s little to no correlation.

31
Q

What does the slope tell about the strength of a relationship

A

The higher the slope, the stronger the relationship.

32
Q

Why can’t cause and effect relationships be determined from correlational studies

A
  • Neither variable is given a control group
  • Other explanations may be possible such as the causal relationship working in the opposite direction or both directions, or a third variable being present
33
Q

Natural correlations

A

The correlations we observe in the real world

34
Q

Third-variable correlation

A

Two variables are correlated because they are related to a third variable.

35
Q

Matched samples

A

A technique where the third variable is kept constant among participants

36
Q

Matched pairs

A

A technique where each participant is identical to others in terms of a third variable

37
Q

What is an experiment

A

A technique that establishes a cause-effect relationship between two variables. The two main features are manipulation and random assignment

38
Q

Independent vs dependent

A

Independent is changed while dependent changes because of the independent and is measures

39
Q

Experimental vs control group

A

Experimental group is treated in a certain way while the control group isn’t treated in any way. Some experiments have no control groups

40
Q

How do you conduct an experiment

A

Manipulate the independent variable while measuring the dependent and keeping others constant. Thus, the change in the dependent is caused by the change in the dependent.

41
Q

Describe within-subject design

A

Using one participant for a study that has greater statistical power and economy of participants but can have carryover, practice, and fatigue in the participants

42
Q

Why is random assignment important

A

Having random assignment ensures that what variable a participant gets isn’t based on a third variable

43
Q

What is self-selection

A

Allowing participants to select what variable they get, this can cause bias

44
Q

Between subject design

A

Different conditions are applied to different groups and should be used if the disadvantages of within subject design is unavoidable

45
Q

What are inferential statistics

A

Procedures for calculating the chance that results were obtained on chance alone

46
Q

How does a probability become statistically significant

A

If the value is less than 0.05 (probability (p) is the likelihood random assignment failed in an experiment)

47
Q

What is statistical significance and what is an issue with it

A

Statistical significance tells us the result did not come by chance but it does not have practical use (eg. a drug makes you lose 0.01 of a pound which is statistically significant but not practically)

48
Q

How can a result be significant

A

If a real statistical relationship exists, then it is significant but it could also be insignificant at the same time

49
Q

Is random variability avoidable

A

No, it is inevitable

50
Q

Describe bias

A

Non-random variation caused by some factors

51
Q

Describe population, sample, and sampling bias

A

Population is the complete set of possible participants, sample is a partial collection drawn from the population, and sampling bias is when the sample is not representative of the population

52
Q

Internal and external validity

A

Internal validity is the extent to which we can trust the conclusions we have made and external validity is out ability to generalize an experiment beyond its original settings

53
Q

American Psychological Association

A

Established a set of ethical rules researchers must follow in order to publish anything

54
Q

What are some ethical guidlines

A

Respect for human dignity and respect for free and informed consent.

55
Q

What are the guidelines of an experiment

A

Minimize harm and maximize benefit, have respect for vulnerable people and make sure they are protected, respect privacy and confidentiality

56
Q

What is a debriefing

A

A verbal description psychologists provide to participants after an experiment is done about the true purpose of the experiment

Psychology 105 (12 decks)

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