Module 1: What is Science

Question 1

Bad science examples (4):

Answer 1

• Scientist use make-believe data
• engage I plagiarism
• Honest error (ex: brain image reading errors)
• Dropping participant data that don’t fit their hypotheses

Question 2

Confirmation Bias

Answer 2

a tendency to process information in ways that support existing belief

Question 3

Science

Answer 3

A way of knowing through observation and experimentation

Question 4

Observation is

Answer 4

obtaining first hand information

Question 5

Experimentation is

Answer 5

Conducting carefully controlled research designed to establish casualty

Question 6

Using faith means____ however _____

Answer 6

that we believe without proof or evidence, however, without evidence, your views are not truly scientific

Question 7

Experimental Methods

Answer 7

Research method characterized by a controlled environment in which the effects of manipulating an independent variable on a dependent variable can be observed allowing researchers to make conclusion about causality

Question 8

Independent variable

Answer 8

The variable manipulated by the experimenter

Question 9

Dependant variable

Answer 9

The variable that is measured to asses the impact of an independent variable

Question 10

Non experimental method+ex (4)

Answer 10

Any research method that is not explicitly experimental or designed to establish causality

Ex: a survey, case study or correlational study

Question 11

What is different with a non experimental method? (2)

Answer 11

1. Method is frequently used in natural setting as opposed to the highly controlled settings of most experiments
2. Variables being observed are typically not manipulated by the researcher unlike the manipulation of the independent variable in the experiment.

Question 12

Relationship between non-experimental studies and conclusions:

Answer 12

Researchers obtain very useful information from non-experimental studies but cannot make firm conclusions about causality. For example. if you correlate students caffeine intake with result on memory test, you cannot say for sure that caffeine affects memory.

Question 13

To make casual conclusions always require

Answer 13

us to run an experiment

Question 14

Reliability+ex (2)

Answer 14

Refers to the ability to produce stable and consistent results. If you conduct the same experiment over and over again, you should get the same results.

Ex: If you take a reliable personality test twice, you should get the same result

Question 15

Validity (3)

Answer 15

• The ability of research to produce result that represents the real world
• how well the results among the study participants represent true findings among similar individuals outside the study
• Consist of internal and external

Question 16

Internal validity + ex (2)

Answer 16

• Ability of a study or measure to do what it is advertised to do
• Ex: If you say you are going to study the affects of caffeine on memory but you measure paying attention, your results don’t have internal validity

Question 17

External Validity +ex (2)

Answer 17

• Quality of research that generalizes outside the research setting to the real world. AKA The ability for us to apply our results beyond the people participating in our study
• Ex: If the coffee research has external validity the public might benefit from consuming caffeine before trying to memorize

Question 18

Theories (2)

Answer 18

• Sets of facts and relationships among facts that explain and predict natural phenomena
• They provide models showing how or why something works

Question 19

Facts vs Theories (2)

facts are….and can…..
theories are…..___…._____…._____

Answer 19

Facts are observed and can be measured

Theories are backed by extensive reports of observation, experimentation and testing

Question 20

Jonathan Haidt

Answer 20

How you think about moral values can be influenced by your situation

Question 21

Theory building

Answer 21

The process of constructing, testing and refining the answer to your research

Question 22

Hypothese

Answer 22

A testable explanation of a natural phenomenom

Question 23

A good hypothesis leads to

Answer 23

testable predictions

Question 24

We are NEVER able to

Answer 24

prove that our hypothesis is correct!

Question 25

Empiricism+what it emphasize (2)

Answer 25

Gaining knowledge through direct observation

**Emphasizes experience as the source of all knowledge

Question 26

Rational thinking

Answer 26

Believing what makes sense

Question 27

Scientists obtain the scientific data they need ______ and then interpret it ______

Answer 27

empirically
rationally

Question 28

Empirical questions + ex (2)

Answer 28

questions that can be answered by systematic observation

Ex: “Does stereotyping occur in more poor or rich places?”
To answer this we can simply observe the amount of stereotyping and discrimination across the varying environment. Our observation of the outcome will tell us wether physical environment made a difference

Question 29

What questions cannot be asked empirically? (2)

Answer 29

“How should people….”

“Do they hold wrong opinions….”

Question 30

Inductive reasoning + begins with…. (2)

Answer 30

Bottom up theory, building from a specific observation to an understanding go a phenomenon

***Begins with a specific observation, hypothesis then theory

Question 31

Deductive reasoning+ begins with…. (2)

Answer 31

Top down theory, beginning with a theory and see if real life observation adhere to the theory
** begins with a theory

Question 32

Give me the deductive pyramid u drew

Answer 32

theory, multiple hypothesis, collect observation, decide if theory is confirmed.

Question 33

Give me the inductive pyramid u drew

Question 34

Basic science

Answer 34

Scientific efforts based on a scientist’s curiosity without a firm idea how the info will be used

Question 35

Applied science + the goal (2)

Answer 35

• Research that aims to solve a particular practical problem
• The goal is not knowledge for knowledge sake but the improvement of human well being.

Question 36

Argument from authority + ex (2)

Answer 36

• Believing people who seem to be credible/who seem to have some credibility about a subject without examining the data yourself

EX: have a phd in genetics

Question 37

Heuristic + ex (2)

Answer 37

• A shortcut in reasoning; rule of thumb.
• humans use mental shortcuts to arrive at decisions

ex: believing sharks are more dangerous than cows

Question 38

Common sense might work in many cases but there are flaws in many aspects of our reasoning such as: (2)

Answer 38

Heuristics and visual illusions

Question 39

Pseudoscience (2)

Answer 39

• Info that does not follow the rules of science but is presented as it does
• rejects prevailing scientific theories without the evidence to support a rejection

Question 40

Nocebo effect

Answer 40

Negative symptoms are caused by expectations

Ex: electromagnetic sensitivity

Question 41

Critical thinking

Answer 41

Ability to think rationally and clearly

Question 42

According to the Elaboration Likelihood Method, we use one of two pathways when evaluating info (2)

Answer 42

Central and peripheral

Question 43

Central pathways of evaluating information (2)

when we use it+ what we focus

Answer 43

• we use this way when the info is important to us and we already know quite a lot about it
• we focus on facts and logic

Question 44

Peripheral pathway of evaluating information (2)

What happens when we use this way?+more persuaded by

Answer 44

• When using this route we are more vulnerable to message infuencing us using means other than logic
• more persuaded by a celebrity endorsement, a messsage tyhat tugs on our emotions or an attractive speaker

Question 45

What would ELM perdict for parents with a autism child in terms of Autism issues and GM foods?

Answer 45

Question 46

Steps to critical thinking (6)

Answer 46

1. Focus on the question being asked
2. Are you making asumptions? (can disort conclusion!!)
3. What evidence supports a conclusion? (Corelation does not mean causuation!!)
4. Are there other ways the evidence cn be intrepreted? (Consider multiple theories)
5. What other evidence do I need? (Refine models)
6. What are the most reasonable conclusions?
   (evaluate the evidence now!)

Question 47

Good critical thinking means we use ____ not ____ to reach conclusions

Answer 47

• reasons
• emotions