Final Exam Flashcards
(34 cards)
What are the 6 things that characterize science according to the text?
-Science is parsimonious
-Science is tentative
-Science is objective
-Science is empirical
-Science is self correcting
-Science is progressive
List the steps of the scientific method (6)
problem identification, hypothesis formulation, research design,
data collection,
data analysis, and communication of results.
What are the three criteria required to establish a cause and effect relationship?
1) temporal precedence,
2) co-variation of cause and effect,
3)elimination of alternative explanations
What are the working assumptions of science? (5)
Scientists assume:
(1) that the world has an existence outside our mind;
(2) that the world can be understood by logical reasoning;
(3) that the world follows the same laws at all times and at all places;
(4) that we can discover how the world works; and
(5) that every event has a cause.
What are the roles theories play in science? (3)
(1) organizing knowledge and explaining laws,
(2) predicting new laws, and
(3) guiding research. (p22)
List each type of validity in relation to tests and measurement and provide an example of each (4)
(1) construct validity,
(2) face validity,
(3) content validity
(4) criterion validity
Distinguish between real and apparent limits. Why are they relevant to independent variables?
Real limits are the rounded number to the next interval. A person may be 5’87645 tall but we would say 5’8 whereas the apparent limit is the specific number
Define systematic or constant error. When is it less of a problem and when is it more? Provide examples of each.
-measurement error that is associated with consistent bias
-It is less problematic if the error impacts the variables consistently and evenly
-It is more problematic when it confounds the independent variable
Define: External Validity and explain the difference between it and ecological validity
how well the findings of an experiment generalize to other situations or populations
eco v: how well the experiment applies to real world situations
Define: maturation
a source of error in an experiment related to the amount of time between measurements (kids growing older between tests for example)
Define: history
Events that occur outside of the experiment that could influence the results of the experiment
Define: effects of retesting
performance on a second test is influenced by simply having taken a first test
Define: regression effects
tendency of subjects with extreme scores on a first measure to score closer to the mean on a second testing
Define: selection
a confound that can occur due to assignment of subjects to groups (as opposed to random selection)
Define: mortality
the dropping out of some subjects before an experiment is completed, causing a threat to validity
List the seven major threats to internal validity
1) Ambiguous temporal precedence
2) History
3) Maturation
4) Effect of testing (repeat testing)
5)Regression effect
6) selection
7) mortality
Briefly describe three threats to external validity
Other Subjects (college students)
Other Times
Other Settings
What is ambiguous temporal precedence in relation to internal validity?
ATP is one of the major threats to internal validity that shows “two variables are related, it is not clear which one is the cause and which one is the effect”
What are the three R’s of animal research and what do they mean?
reduction, refinment, replacement
-Reduce the number of animals use
-Refine the experiment
-Find an alternative way of researching the subject material
What is the researcher’s responsibility with respect to the research participant’s right to privacy?
People who participate in psychological studies have the right to expect that their data will never be made public in a way that would permit their identification, unless they agree to such publication.
List the 7 main ethical rules described in the course overview
1) researcher’s responsibility for making a careful assessment of the ethical acceptability of the researh
2) shared responsibility among all research team members
3) informed consent
4) use of deception only when justified
5) freedom to withdraw from participation
6) debriefing
7) confidentiality
Distinguish among population, sampling frame, sample and elements. Give an example to illustrate these distinctions.
population-the complete set group of individuals unified by a given characteristic
sampling frame-the decisions made by the researcher as to who will be sampled
sample-data of those tested
element-a sampled piece of the sampling frame
State the criteria for a useful questionaire item (6)
-written in language familiar to all respondents.
-clear and specific. (Define the terms and the context ) -Make alternatives clear, exhaustive, and mutually exclusive in the case of closed-ended questions.
-avoid any leading, loaded, or double-barrelled questions that result in biases.
-be as concise as possible.
-all conditional information be presented prior to the key idea.
