Chapter 2

Question 1

What is the purpose of the scientific method?

Answer 1

To test ideas against the real world

Question 2

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer 2

Ideas are tested against the empirical world

Question 3

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 3

Empirical observations lead to new ideas

Question 4

What does the word empirical mean?

Answer 4

Grounded in objective, tangible evidence that can be observed time and time again, regardless of who is observing

Question 5

What is a theory?

Answer 5

A theory is a well-developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena

Question 6

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 6

A testable prediction about how the world will behave if our idea is correct (Often worded as an if-then statement)

Question 7

Describe the cycle of the scientific theory.

Answer 7

Theory -> Hypothesis -> Research -> Observation -> Theory

Question 8

What does it mean for something to be falsifiable?

Answer 8

Capable of being shown to be incorrect

Question 9

Describe the difference between correlational studies and experiments?

Answer 9

Correlational focuses on monitoring two existing variables, whereas an experiment introduces a catalyst and purposefully changes one of the variables.

Question 10

What is a case study?

Describe its limitations.

Answer 10

Observational research study focusing on one or a few people

Limitations: Makes it hard to generalize because people being studied are often not like most other people

Question 11

What is a cross-sectional study?

Describe its limitations.

Answer 11

Compares multiple segments of a population at a single time
(Limitations: Hindered by the differences that exist between the different generations (or cohorts) that have nothing to do with age per se, but rather reflect the social and cultural experiences of each group)

Question 12

What is a naturalistic observation?

Describe its limitations.

Answer 12

Observation of behavior in its natural setting

Limitations: Difficult to set up and control

Question 13

What is a longitudinal study?

Describe its limitations.

Answer 13

Studies in which the same group of individuals is surveyed or measured repeatedly over an extended period of time
(Limitations: Requires a lot of time and resources to see the project through)

Question 14

What is replication?

Answer 14

Repeating an experiment using different samples to determine the research’s reliability

Question 15

What is reliability?

Answer 15

Consistency and reproducibility of a given result

Question 16

What is validity?

Answer 16

Accuracy of a given result in measuring what it is designed to measure

Question 17

What is control?

Answer 17

Serves as basis for comparison and controls for chance factors that might influence the results of the study - by holding such factors constant across groups so that the experimental manipulation is the only difference between groups. (In short, what stays the same.)

Question 18

What is a double-blind study?

Answer 18

Experiment in which both the researchers and the participants are blind to group assignments

Question 19

What is random assignment?

Answer 19

Method of experimental group assignment in which all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to either group