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Question 1

What are the two core beliefs of science?

Answer 1

The universe operates according to natural laws, and these laws are discoverable and testable.

Question 2

What is the scientific method?

Answer 2

A process using logical reasoning to discover and test natural laws, involving steps like observation, hypothesis formulation, testing, and theory building.

Question 3

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer 3

Reasoning that starts from general principles and applies them to specific situations.

Question 4

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 4

Reasoning that starts with specific observations and leads to general conclusions.

Question 5

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 5

A specific, testable statement about how variables relate, which can be disproved or supported.

Question 6

What is the hypothetico-deductive method?

Answer 6

A process where scientists begin with a hypothesis, test it through controlled observations, and adjust theories based on the results.

Question 7

What is bias in research?

Answer 7

Distorted beliefs based on a person’s subjective reality, which can affect the objectivity of research.

Question 8

What are empirical observations?

Answer 8

Observations that can be tested in objective ways

Question 9

What is a theory in science?

Answer 9

A set of ideas about laws that govern phenomena, built on empirical observations and hypotheses.

Question 10

What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?

Answer 10

Inductive reasoning builds generalizations from specific observations, while deductive reasoning applies general principles to specific cases.

Question 11

What is the role of a hypothesis in psychological research?

Answer 11

It guides the research by predicting a relationship between variables, which can be tested through experiments.

Question 12

What is an independent variable?

Answer 12

The variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on another variable.

Question 13

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 13

The variable in an experiment that is expected to change as a result of changes in the independent variable.

Question 14

What does it mean to operationalize variables?

Answer 14

Defining variables in precise, measurable terms to ensure they can be tested in an experiment.

Question 15

What is a sample in psychological research?

Answer 15

A subset of a population used to represent the population in a research study.

Question 16

What is random selection?

Answer 16

A process where every individual in the population has an equal chance of being chosen for a study, reducing bias.

Question 17

What is random assignment?

Answer 17

Assigning participants to experimental or control groups in a random manner to reduce pre-existing differences between groups.

Question 18

What is a case study?

Answer 18

An in-depth examination of a single individual, often used in early stages of research to generate hypotheses.

Question 19

What is naturalistic observation?

Answer 19

Observing subjects in their natural environment without interference to study behavior in real-life contexts.

Question 20

What is the Hawthorne effect?

Answer 20

When people change their behavior because they know they are being observed, not due to experimental manipulation.

Question 21

What is a survey?

Answer 21

A research method where participants are asked a series of questions to gather information about their behaviors, attitudes, or opinions.

Question 22

What is participant bias?

Answer 22

When participants alter their behavior or responses based on what they believe is socially acceptable or expected by the researcher.

Question 23

What is an experiment in psychology?

Answer 23

A controlled study where researchers manipulate one or more variables to observe their effect on other variables, establishing cause and effect.

Question 24

What is a control group?

Answer 24

The group in an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment, used for comparison with the experimental group.

Question 25

What is an experimental group?

Answer 25

The group in an experiment that is exposed to the independent variable.

Question 26

What is a correlation?

Answer 26

A statistical measure that describes the relationship between two variables, showing how changes in one relate to changes in another.

Question 27

What is a positive correlation?

Answer 27

A relationship where as one variable increases, the other also increases

Question 28

What is a negative correlation?

Answer 28

A relationship where as one variable increases, the other decreases.

Question 29

What does a correlation coefficient tell us?

Answer 29

It tells us the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, ranging from -1.00 (perfect negative) to +1.00 (perfect positive).

Question 30

What is a perfect correlation?

Answer 30

A relationship where the scores of two variables are always exactly related, either positively (+1.00) or negatively (-1.00).

Question 31

What is the difference between correlation and causation?

Answer 31

Correlation shows a relationship between two variables, but it does not prove that one causes the other.

Question 32

What is statistical significance?

Answer 32

A measure of whether the results of a study are likely due to the manipulation of variables and not just due to chance (often with a probability value of p < 0.05).

Question 33

What is replication in research?

Answer 33

Repeating a study to confirm that the original findings were not due to chance and to verify the results under different conditions.

Question 34

What is the mean in statistics?

Answer 34

The arithmetic average of a set of scores.

Question 35

What is the standard deviation?

Answer 35

A measure of how much scores in a data set vary around the mean.

Question 36

What is a t-test?

Answer 36

A statistical test used to compare the means of two groups to determine if they are significantly different from each other.

Question 37

What is informed consent?

Answer 37

The process by which researchers inform participants about the details of the study and obtain their permission to participate.

Question 38

What is debriefing in psychological research?

Answer 38

Explaining the purpose of the research and any deception used to participants after the study has been completed.

Question 39

What is a double-blind procedure?

Answer 39

A study design where neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the experimental or control groups, reducing bias.

Question 40

What is a placebo?

Answer 40

A substance or treatment with no active ingredients, often used in control groups to test the effectiveness of a new drug or treatment.

Question 41

What is demand characteristic?

Answer 41

Cues in an experiment that suggest to participants how they are expected to behave.

Question 42

What are descriptive research methods?

Answer 42

Research methods that observe and describe behavior without manipulating variables, including case studies, surveys, and naturalistic observation.

Question 43

What is pseudoscience?

Answer 43

Claims or beliefs that appear scientific but are not based on the scientific method or empirical evidence, like astrology.

Question 44

What are the ethical steps psychologists must follow in research?

Answer 44

Obtaining informed consent, protecting participants from harm, ensuring confidentiality, and debriefing participants after the study.

Question 45

What is a theory in psychology?

Answer 45

A broad explanation that integrates a set of principles and observations about behaviors or mental processes.

Question 46

What is the role of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC)?

Answer 46

To protect the needs and well-being of animals used in research in Canada.