Chapter 1: Psychology Is A Way Of Thinking Flashcards
(42 cards)
1
Q
Producer?
A
- someone that works in a lab, university etc conducting research
L> conducting research can teach one how psychologists ask questions and how they think about their discipline
2
Q
Consumer?
A
- those that anjou reading about research but do not conduct it.
- by reading it they can apply it to work, hobbies, personal growth or relationships
3
Q
Do practicing psychologists engage in one category or both?
A
- BOTH
- they are consumers and producers
4
Q
Do most psychology majors become producers or consumers?
A
consumers
5
Q
Interrogating Information in relation to consumers?
A
- they need to know how to ask the right questions, determine the answers and evaluate a study on the basis of the answers.
6
Q
A good consumer must be able to pick out the __ and __ information from the ___ and just plain ___.
A
- good , accurate
- dubious, wrong
7
Q
What is empiricism?
A
- basing one’s conclusions on systematic observation
8
Q
How many scientific cycles are there?
A
4
9
Q
How the Four Scientific Cycles interact with one another:
- There is a give and take between the __-_ cycle.
- There is give and take between __ and __ research.
- Purpose of writing a paper?
- Media?
A
- theory-data
L> scientists test theories via research and adapt their theories via data from their research - Basic and Applied
L> Basic: contributes to the general body of knowledge
L> Applied: directly targets real world probs - write it about results for other scientists , submit it to a peer review and respond to the opinions of others….INPUT.
- findings reported in the media can inspire others to begin new research
10
Q
What cycles move science forward? (5)
A
- feedback, application, inspiration, communication and publication
11
Q
Explain the Theory - Data Cycle!
L> Include steps(5)
A
- its the most important cycle in science
- scientists collect data to test, change or update their theories.
STEPS:
1. as a series of q’s guided by theory
2. q’s lead to specific predictions
3. set up a situation to test the predictions
4. examine data to figure out of the prediction was correct or if it needs to be refined.
5. draw conlcucions
** these are systematic steps to solve a prob**
12
Q
What is a Theory?
A
- a statement or a set of them that describes general principles about how variables relate to one another.
13
Q
What are Hypotheses/predictions?
A
- a way of stating the specific outcome that the research expects to observe if their theory is accurate or not accurate.
14
Q
Can a single prediction sufficiently test a whole theory?
A
- no you need multiple
15
Q
What is data?
A
- a set of observations.
L> depending on if the data is consisted with the theory based predictions it may either support or challenge a theory.
16
Q
Confidence in a theory goes up when what matches the predictions?
A
- data
- if it does not than the theory needs to be revised if the data does not match the predictions.
17
Q
Explain Empiricism!
A
- the approach of collecting data and using it to develop , support or challenge a theory.
L> involves using evidence from our senses or form interments that assist our senses (timers, pictures, scales etc) as the bias for our conclusions
18
Q
Give a quick run through of the theory data cycle. (think of the figure)
A
- Theory - leads to particular
- Research questions - leads to an appropriate
- Research design - in the context of design, researchers formulate
- Hypotheses- they then collect and analyze
- Data - which feeds back into the cycle
- supporting data funnels back and strengthens the theory
- non-supportive data leads to revision of research design or theory.
19
Q
What makes a good theory?(3)
A
- good theories are supported by data, are falsifiable and are parsimonious.
20
Q
Good theories are supported by data.Explain.
A
- this is the most important feature
- if a theory is supported by a large quantity and variety if evidence you gave a good theory
21
Q
Good theories are falsifiable. Explain.
A
- a theory needs to lead to predictions that can potentially be proven correct or false when tested therefore challenging the theory itself.
22
Q
Good theories are parsimonious.
- explain (2)
- this sets a ____ for the theory - data cycle.
A
- all other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best.
- basically if two theories explain the data equally as well most scientists opt for the simpler theory aka more parsimonious.
- standard
- ** as long as a theory predicts the data well and is simple there should be no need to make it more complex. HOWEVER if the data contradicts the theory it needs to changed to properly accommodate the data.
23
Q
Do researchers say the PROVED something?
A
- NEVER
- they state that some data support or are consistent with a theory or that some data are inconsistent with or complicate the theory
24
Q
Does data that doesn’t line up with a theory immediately = scrap theory?
A
NO
- it may require tweaking but not scrapping
25
We evaluate theories based on what?
weight of the evidence
26
The Basic-Applied Research Cycle is made up go what three things?
- Applied Research
- Basic Research
- Transitional Research
27
The Basic-Applied Research Cycle:
| 1. Applied Research????
1. done with a practical problem in mind
| - it will be used directly to help solve a problem in a particular real world context
28
The Basic-Applied Research Cycle:
| 2. Basic Research???
- goal is to enhance the general body of knowledge
| - its a solid bass for later applied research
29
Basic and Applied research often overlap indicating the cycle aspect. How does the cycle usually start?
- Basic --------> Applied |
|<----------------------|
********* can start at either
30
The Basic-Applied Research Cycle:
| 3. Transitional Research???
- represents a dynamic bridge from basic to applied research.
- using basic research lessons to develop applied research...BUT it can go the opposite way as well. Applied can inspire basic.
31
Researchers what to do what with findings?
-no matter if it is basic or applied, scientists want to share findings with the scientific world via writing a paper and submitting it to a scientific journal
32
Scientific Journals?
- come out every month
- contain articles written by a variety of ppl
- peer reviewed (unlike mags)
33
The Peer-Review Cycle??Process??
- once the paper is written it is sent to a journals editor.
- editor sends the manuscript off to 3-4 experts on the subject whom tell the editor about its good and bad qualities...after which the editor decides to pub or not.
34
The Peer-Review Cycle:
| - peer reviewers are known or anonymous to the writer?
- anonymous to keep the review honest.
| L> ensuring good quality work is published, bad is not and the acceptable work is edited properly b4 pub.
35
The Peer-Review Cycle #1?
- manuscript
- peers
- find bad flaws
- not published
* *not common**
36
The common Cycle for Peer-Review?
- peers ask for revisions, scientist responds and revises....maybe collects more data and resubmits. If improved enough it is published.
37
The Journal-to-Journalism Cycle:
| - do the general public usually read scientific literature?
NO
38
The Journal-to-Journalism Cycle:
| - solution to general public not reading journals???
- Journalism
L> written by non scientists and do not rehire a especial education to understand
L> turn the research into a news story via summarizing it for a popular audience giving an eye catching title and not writing in jargon terms.
39
The Journal-to-Journalism Cycle:
| -benefits of this cycle? ??
- general public can learn what psychologists actually do and gain tips for their lives.
40
The Journal-to-Journalism Cycle:
| L> benefits from this depend on what?
1. Journalists must report on the most important stories
| 2. they need to explain it accurately
41
The Journal-to-Journalism Cycle:
| - Is the story important? How is this determined?
- has the research story selected been tested rigorously, does it test on important q's? has it been peer reviewed?
42
The Journal-to-Journalism Cycle:
| - Is the story accurately retold? ?
- even if the research is reliable did the reported actually get it right?
- do they have the scientific background/ training, the motivation or the time to actually understand the original paper well enough to report on it to the gen pub.
