Lecture 2

Question 1

Describe cognitive bias.

Name types.

Answer 1

most people think their common sense is above average. we don’t necessarily have the best handle on our thoughts/abilities

• hindsight bias
• conformation bias
• overconfidence
• perceiving patterns in random events

Question 2

describe hindsight bias

Answer 2

• people tend to believe that after hearing the outcomes that they did or could have predicted the outcome
• “i knew it all along”
• people misremember their thoughts after hearing the outcomes
• reconstructive nature of memory

Question 3

describe conformation bias

Answer 3

• we attend to and process information that is consistent with what we believe
• often ignoring information that disputes our expectations
• tend to surround ourselves with like-minded people, furthering the bias

Question 4

describe overconfidence

Answer 4

• most people overestimate their abilities to be better than the norm
• subjective confidence is greater than our actual abilities
• about 2% of people judge themselves accurately
• people who aren’t good at smt tend to think they’re better than they are, ppl who are actually good at it tend to think they’re not as good
• tends to get worse in groups
• confidence sweet spot = “goldilocks zone”

Question 5

describe perceiving pattern in random events

Answer 5

• we make sense of our world. perception
• Gestalt: when there’s blank spots in our understanding we tend to fill it
• humans don’t like uncomfortable things or anxiety so we need to make sense of our world to feel relaxed (largely why we have beliefs of magic or religion)
• strange things happen, but when it does it seems so inconceivable that we don’t trust it

Question 6

cognitive bias infographic in notes.

Answer 6

.

Question 7

scientific method infographic in notes.

Answer 7

.

Question 8

describe operational definition

Answer 8

part of a hypothesis

explains what you’re doing in the experiments so others can replicate the research

Question 9

Name the descriptive/qualitative methods

Answer 9

case studies

naturalistic observations, surveys research

Question 10

describe correlational methods

Answer 10

• recognizing when two variable are related
• determining whether a relationship exists between two or more variables
• NO CONTROLLING VARIABLES

Question 11

describe experimental methods

Answer 11

cause and effect

• manipulating one variable to discover if the change in that variable changes another
• where scientific method is used

Question 12

Basic/pure research

Answer 12

• curiosity driven
  exploring and advancing scientific understanding
• investigating the why, what, how
• just trying to understand stuff

Question 13

applied research

Answer 13

• solving practical problems/improving quality of life

- ex: methods to improve memory, conflict resolution for victims and perpetrators of violence

Question 14

Descriptive research methods

Answer 14

case study
naturalistic observation
survey

Question 15

case study

Answer 15

in depth study of a person, group, phenomenon (usually rare)
- observation, interviews, psychological testing
appropriate for studying uncommon psychological or physiological disorders
appropriate for studying uncommon psychological disorders, brain injury, what would be unethical or impossible to conduct an experiment (CTE)

Question 16

naturalistic observation

+ advantage/disadvantage

Answer 16

Jane Goodall, apes

observe and record behaviours in natural setting without interfering/attempting to influence or control

Advantage: no artificial lab set-ups and can be easy. generates new ideas

disadvantage: events must occur (might not), time consuming. CANNOT GENERALIZE findings

observer bias: distorted observations. might see what you expect/hope to see

Question 17

survey

+advantage/disadvantage

Answer 17

tests, questionnaires, interviews

• used to gather info abt attitudes, beliefs, experiences, behaviours of ppl
• advantage: well-designed and properly administered surveys provide high quality accurate info abt large groups, demographics, sensitive info
• disadvantage: poorly designed/non representative samples, respondents may provide inaccurate info

Question 18

correlational methods

Answer 18

• measures degree of relationship between two variables (how they relate to each other)

Question 19

correlation coefficient is a number in what range. indicates what?

Answer 19

-1 to 1

degree and direction of relationship

Question 20

+1 indicates

Answer 20

perfect positive correlation (directly proportional)

ex: hours worked and pay

Question 21

-1 indicates

Answer 21

perfect inverse correlation

time since beginning of class to the time its over

Question 22

0 indicates

Answer 22

no correlation

IQ and eye color

Question 23

Why does correlation not equal causation

Answer 23

info graphic

TEST Q

Question 24

experimentation laboratory observation

Answer 24

• exert more control and use of precise equipment
• lose spontaneity/genuineness
• must follow experimental method to prove cause and effect

Question 25

variable

Answer 25

any condition or factor that can be manipulated to see if causes change in another variable

Question 26

indep variable

Answer 26

manipulated to see if. causes change in another variable, what you vary

Question 27

dep variable

Answer 27

presumed as a result of the indep variable, what you measure

Question 28

confounding variable

Answer 28

factor other than what is being studies that influences that outcome

Question 29

population

Answer 29

entire group of interest, from which a sample is selected to generalize findings

Question 30

a sample must be…

Answer 30

random
randomly picking out of a hat for samples

Representative
similar proportions of all dif subgroups of people. smt that accurately represents all people in group

Question 31

bell curve

Answer 31

get it. see pics.

Question 32

random assignment (to exp/control groups)… why?

Answer 32

to control for selection bias. pre-existing differences in the group affect results

Question 33

experimental group

Answer 33

exposed to the indep factor

Question 34

control group

Answer 34

for purpose of comparison (not exposed to indep variable)

Question 35

experimenter bias

Answer 35

preconceived notions or expectations can distort interpretation of the results

communication (tone, gestures, facial expressions) can influence participant

double blind technique

Question 36

placebo

Answer 36

inactive substance used as a control technique
power of suggestion

control groups control for the placebo effect

Question 37

PSYCHOLOGICAl TESTS AND AFTER

Answer 37

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