chapter 2

Question 1

what are the two essential beliefs when it comes to scientific principles?

Answer 1

the universe operates according to certain natural laws, such laws are discoverable and testable

Question 2

what approach does the scientific method rely on?

Answer 2

deductive reasoning (reasoning from broad basic principles applied to scientific situations)

Question 3

who was first to question deductive reasoning and why?

Answer 3

francis bacon, too bias

Question 4

what is inductive reasoning?

Answer 4

reasoning proceeding from specific situations to general truths, avoids bias

Question 5

what are empirical observations?

Answer 5

testable

Question 6

what builds on both inductive and deductive approaches?

Answer 6

hypothetico- deductive reasoning (scientists begin with an educated guess, then design small controlled observations)

Question 7

what are the steps to the scientific method approach?

Answer 7

observations, hypothesis, test, build theory

Question 8

what did german philosopher Emanuel kant suggest?

Answer 8

psychology is empirical and very close to real science

Question 9

what was eugenics?

Answer 9

a social movement that improves the human race by encouraging reproduction with desirable traits.

Question 10

what is pseudopsychology?

Answer 10

psychology can provide answers to all of lifes major questions

Question 11

what is the main idea behind psychological research?

Answer 11

to isolate relative contribution factors and to think about how these factors come together to influence human behaviour.

Question 12

what are the 6 steps psychologists use when conducting research?

Answer 12

1. identify questions of interest
2. develop testable hypothesis
3. select research method, participants and collect data
4. analyze data and accept or reject hypothesis
5. seek scientific review
6. develop theory

Question 13

what is the difference between and independent and dependent variable?

Answer 13

factor in changing a condition or event, condition or event that changes as a result

Question 14

what does it mean to operationalize variable?

Answer 14

working definition of a variable that allows you to test it

Question 15

what is the best way to select a sample of people for research?

Answer 15

random selection (everyone in a population has equal chance of being involved)

Question 16

what does random selection minimize?

Answer 16

sample bias

Question 17

what are descriptive research methods?

Answer 17

case studies, naturalistic observations, surveys

Question 18

how is experimental research different from descriptive research?

Answer 18

involves manipulation and control of variables.

Question 19

what are naturalistic observations?

Answer 19

observing people while they behave like they normally do. (more reflective on human behaviour) may be subject to research bias.

Question 20

what is the hawthorne affect?

Answer 20

when people are being observed during study or at their work place they will preform better, because they are being watched or studied.

Question 21

what is a disadvantage of a survey?

Answer 21

people don’t always answer honestly, they answer according to what is socially acceptable. (participant bias)

Question 22

what is the difference between the control group and the experimental group?

Answer 22

experimental group ( exposed to the independent variable)
control group (hasn't and wont be exposed to independent variable)
*(both measure change in dependent variable)

Question 23

what is a demand characteristic?

Answer 23

an undesired affect in which the participants are unintentionally aware of the expected outcome

Question 24

what is the double blind procedure?

Answer 24

neither the researcher or the participant knows the treatment being received.

Question 25

what is a correlation?

Answer 25

a predictable relationship between two or more variables

Question 26

what is used to express the strength and relationship between two variables?

Answer 26

correlation coefficient (-1 to +1)

Question 27

what is the difference between positive and negative correlation?

Answer 27

(+)on average scores between two variables increase together, (-) scores on one variable increases while scores decrease on another

Question 28

what is perfect correlation?

Answer 28

a score of either -1 or +1, two variables are exactly related

Question 29

what is the most likely range for correlation in psychology?

Answer 29

0.3 and above

Question 30

what is the difference between descriptive statistics and inferential statistics?

Answer 30

descriptive (describe or summarize the data gathered from study)
inferential (tells researches what they inferred or conclude, more broadly)

Question 31

what is standard deviation?

Answer 31

index of how much scores vary within a group.

1. calculate mean
2. subtract mean from each value and square result
3. work out mean of squared results
4. take the square root

Question 32

what are the two statistical procedures used for standard deviation and whats the difference?

Answer 32

t-tests( two groups), analysis of variance

Question 33

when is a statistical test significant?

Answer 33

when probability of variance is less than 5% (0.05)

Question 34

what does the research ethics board do?

Answer 34

research oversight group that evaluates research to protect the rights of participants in the study

Question 35

what are the steps psychologists need to take when using human participants?

Answer 35

1. obtain informed consent
2. protect participants from harm and discomfort
3. protect confidentiality
4. mark participation voluntary
5. do not use deception or incomplete disclosure
6. provide a complete debriefing (full information)

Question 36

what are the three main research agencies?

Answer 36

CIHR (canadian institutes of health research), NSERC (natural science and engineering research council of canada), SSHRC( social sciences and humantities research council of canada)

Question 37

when using children is consent needed from parents as well as the child?

Answer 37

yes

Question 38

what guidelines to psychologists need to follow when using animals?

Answer 38

CCAC

1. reasonably expected to benefit humans
2. if researched best efforts to find an alternative have failed
3. most humane methods used
4. limit pain or distress, proper recovery periods
5. help ensure more ethical procedures, betters science