Chapter 2: Studying Behaviour Scientifically

Question 1

Steps of the Scientific Process

Answer 1

1: Initial observations / questions

#2: Formation of a hypothesis
#3: Testing the hypothesis
#4: Analyzing Data
#5: Further research and theory building
#6: New hypotheses derived from new theory

Question 2

Approaches to Understand Behaviour

Answer 2

1: Hindsight Understanding: arriving at explanations after the fact

-a major limitation is the inability to determine alternatives
#2: Prediction, Control and Theory Building
-good theories allow for good predictions
-incorporates and tests existing facts to form predictions
-Law off Parsimony: if 2 theories can explain and predict the same outcome, thee simpler theory is preferred

Question 3

Methods of Measurement and Research

Answer 3

Operational definition: defines a variable in terms of the procedures used to measure it

Question 4

Techniques to measuring processes

Answer 4

-Self-Report Measure: asking people directly, honesty and bias are flaws
-Reports by Others
-Physiological Measures: biologically obtaining reports, but can’t do emotion
-Behavioural Observations: observing behaviour in real life or in lab settings

Question 5

Techniques to conducting research

Answer 5

-Descriptive research
-Correlational research
-Experimental research

Question 6

Descriptive research

Answer 6

-case studies, natural observations, surveys

Question 7

Correlational research

Answer 7

-searches for connections between natural variables
-bi-directional causality problem: not knowing If x caused y or y caused x
-third variable problem: hard to tell
-correlation dos not demonstrate causation

Question 7

Correlational research

Answer 7

-searches for connections between natural variables
-bi-directional causality problem: not knowing If x caused y or y caused x
-third variable problem: hard to tell
-correlation dos not demonstrate causation

Question 8

Experimental research

Answer 8

-testing explanations and seeking conclusions
-random assignment: generalization
-exposure to all conditions: eliminates possible problems, more accurate

Question 9

Threats to validity of research

Answer 9

-internal validity: the degree that research supports pre-existing clear conclusions
-confounding of variables: bi-directional causality problems
-demand characteristics: when the hypothesis is known, behaviour changes
-placebo effects: expectations of an effect may one the only cause of the effect
-experimenter expectancy effects: participants are nudged to follow hypothesis
-replicating/generalizing findings: experiment may not be repeated identically