lecture 3 Flashcards
(16 cards)
hypotheses must::
- must be logical
- must be positive (indicates it actually is happening: I think there IS a relationship)
- must be testable
- must be simple
- must be falsifiable (must be able to have evidence against, prove you wrong)
characteristics of pseudoscience
use scientific language to make claims without any scientific data
- hypothesis not falsifiable
- scientific-sounding terminology
- supportive evidence is anecdotal or relies on “expert” testimony
- claims are vague, appeal to preconceived ideas
- claims are never revised to account for new data; conflicting data ignored
ex) weight loss pill
goals of psychological science research
- describe behavior: careful observation and measurement ex) average SAT scores
- predicating behavior: observe that two events are systematically related, when “X” happens, does “Y” also happen?: make and test predictions:
- determine the cause of behavior: ex) SAT predict later income, SAT score caused success, SAT score is associated with other variables, which causes later success
- explaining of behavior: ex) why do SAT scores predict future income? Higher skill/ability level, take uni seriously, higher quality of education prior to SAT, success driven
criteria for casual claims
- Covariation of cause and effect
- Temporal precedence: one has to occur before the other
- Alternative explanations: experiments ex) strong correlation between eating ice cream and violent crime- no both just increase when its warm like summer
applied research
Applied:
- solving a practical problem
ex) testing the testing effect in the classroom
basic research
Basic:
- gaining theoretical understanding
ex) test-enhanced learning: taking memory tests improves long-term retention
variables
-anything that can have more than one level
ex) intelligence, GSR, happiness
-experimental research:
ex) independent variable= manipulated
dependant variable= measured
-non-experimental research:
ex) two (or more) variables related
types of variables
- Situational- the temp in room, time or day, how bright it is in this room
- Response- whatever your measuring (dependant variable)
- Participant- age, gender, unique about you
- Mediating- alternative explanation, connects one variable to another ex) poverty-less access to health care-shorter lifespan
operational definitions
-definition in terms of the technique the researcher uses to measure/manipulate
ex) anxiety= state-trait anxiety scale
ex) intelligence= IQ test
abstract –> concrete
operational definitions problems
- Leave characteristics out
- Add extra characteristics
- Definitions can impact conclusions
validity
- measuring what it is intending to measure
- are IQ tests valid
face validity
- does measure look like it’s measuring the construct?
- appears to measure what it’s meant to measure
- no expertise needed- depression scale
construct validity
- does the measure match the theoretical construct
- correlates with other measures of the construct
- need established measures and /or expertise to check
- does the depression scale have construct validity? -therapist
convergent validity
Convergent validity: are scores on the measure similar to other measures of the same construct
divergent validity
Divergent validity: are scores on the measure different from measures of other unrelated constructs
-these are ways to measure construct validity
predictive validity
- does the measure predict later behavior?
ex) scores on the depression scale hospitalizations or depressions
