Chapter 2: Psychology as a Science Flashcards
(87 cards)
It is considered to be an empirical discipline. It is held to be based on objective observation, a public knowledge, and tried to determine facts and reduce uncertainty through the use of a scientific methodologies.
Psychology
This is defined as the source of knowledge based on the assumption that knowledge comes from the objective and measurement of particular variables and the events they affect.
The Scientific Method
Psychology usually have four specific goals when they study some behavior or mental process.
- To observe and describe behavior.
- To understand or explain behavior by identifying its causes.
- To predict behavior.
- To influence people to change their behavior.
What are the questions that can be answered by the four specific goals when studying behavior and mental process?
- What
- Why
- When
- How
The scientific method in conducting psychological research.
- Definition of the problem.
- Formulation of the hypothesis.
- Testing the hypothesis. (descriptive, correlational, and experimental)
- Analysis. (descriptive, correlational, and inferential)
- Drawing conclusion.
- Reporting results.
The general considerations in conducting psychological research.
- Population and Sample
- Research approach
- Research design and method
- Research Setting
- Appropriate Statistics
It refers to the entire group whose characteristics are being studied.
Population
It is the subset of the population. The representative of the population if its characteristics match those of the population.
Sample
The purpose of sampling.
To make generalizations about the whole population which are valid and accurate and which allow prediction.
The two types of sampling.
- Probability or Random Sampling
- Non-Probability Sampling
This type of sampling is if each members of a population has an equal chance of inclusion into a sample.
Probability or Random Sampling
This type of sampling refers to any sort of sampling process which is not random. This methods are popular because they are more convenient and less expensive.
Non-Probability Sampling
The two types of approaches in Psychology Research.
- Nomothetic (Quantitative Approach)
- Idiographic (Qualitative Approach)
This approach basically used inferential and descriptive statistics as both medium of scientific method of investigation in analyzing, presenting, and interpretation of data gathered by the researcher through standardized or objective instruments.
Nomothetic (Qualitative Approach)
This approach uses qualitative method of data gathering such as interviews, diaries, and other written materials, obtained from or provided by the expected or anticipated respondents of a particular research.
Idiographic (Qualitative Approach)
The three research designs commonly used in psychology.
- Descriptive
- Correlational
- Experimental
This studies does not test specific relationships between variables. In this research method, general or specific behaviors or attributes are observed and measured, without respect to each other.
Descriptive Studies
The three main types of descriptive methods.
- Observational methods
- Case-study methods
- Survey methods
In this method, animal and human behavior is closely observed.
Observational method
The two main characteristics of observational method.
- Naturalistic Observation
- Laboratory Observation
This category of observational method looks at the behavior of people and animals in their environment.
Naturalistic Observation
This is a naturalistic observation in which the observer becomes a participant in the group being observed.
Participant Observation
It is an observational study that compares different population groups at a single point in time.
Cross-sectional research
An observational one that is conducted several times over a period of time, sometimes lasting many years.
Longitudinal study
