Ch. 1 - Scientific Understanding of Behaviour

Question 1

Alternative Explanation

Answer 1

• Part of causal inference

- A potential alternative cause of an observed relationship between variables

Question 2

What 3 criteria must be satisfied to identify a cause?

Answer 2

1. Covariation of cause and effect
2. Temporal precedence
3. Alternative explanation

Question 3

Covariation of cause and effect

Answer 3

• Part of causal inference

- Observing that a change in one variable is accompanied by a change in a second variable

Question 4

Temporal precedence

Answer 4

• Part of causal inference

- The cause precedes the effect in a time sequence

Question 5

Illusory Correlation

Answer 5

-A type of cognitive bias that occurs when we focus on two events that stand out and occur together

Question 6

Intuition

Answer 6

-Unquestioning acceptance of what your personal judgement or a single story about one person’s experience tells you about the world

Question 7

Authority

Answer 7

-As an alternative to the scientific method of acquiring knowledge, accepting anything learned from supposed authority figures (ex. news media, books, government officials, or religious figures)

Question 8

Scientific skepticism

Answer 8

-Recognize that your own ideas are just as likely to be as wrong as anyone else’s, and question other people’s pronouncements of truth, regardless of their prestige or authority

Question 9

Empiricism

Answer 9

• The fundamental characteristic of the scientific method is empiricism
• Empiricism is the use of OBJECTIVE OBSERVATIONS to answer a question about the nature of behaviour

Question 10

What 4 norms should characterize scientific inquiry at its best?

Answer 10

1. Universalism
2. Communality = method and results are to be shared openly –> leads to replication
3. Disinterestedness
4. Organized skepticism

Question 11

Falsifiable

Answer 11

• Capable of being shown to be false when tested using scientific methods
• A good scientific idea or theory should be falsifiable

Question 12

Pseudoscience

Answer 12

-Claims that are made on the basis of evidence that is designed to appear scientific; such evidence is not based on the principles of the scientific method however

Some warning signs of pseudoscience:

• Claims are vague
• Claims are not falsifiable
• Claims ignor conflicting evidence
• Supportive evidence relies heavily on authorities who are “so-called” experts in the area of interest
• Claims are stated in scientific-sounding terminology and ideas

Question 13

Goals of scientific research in psychology

Answer 13

1. To DESCRIBE behaviour
2. To PREDICT behaviour
3. To determine the CAUSES of behaviour
4. To understand or EXPLAIN behaviour

Question 14

Basic research

Answer 14

-Research that attempts to answer fundamental questions about the nature of behaviour

Question 15

Applied research

Answer 15

-Research conducted to address practical problems and potential solutions

Question 16

Program evaluation

Answer 16

-Research designed to evaluate programs (ex. social reforms, innovations) that are designed to produce certain changes or outcomes in a target population

Question 17

Sources of Knowledge and Beliefs

Answer 17

• Authority
• Rationalism/reason/logic
• Intuition
• Scientific method

Question 18

Types of articles?

Answer 18

• Primary source
• Review article
• Reference/handbook/encyclopedia entry
• Mainstream media/popular science

Question 19

Karl Popper

Answer 19

-Introduced the concept of falsifiability to evaluate the scientific status of a theory

Question 20

When is a hypothesis unfalsifiable?

Answer 20

• When no empirical evidence is obtainable
• When its predictions are so vague that they can hardly fail; that they become irrefutable
• When it is upheld even though refuted by data