Psych as a science Flashcards
(8 cards)
Define falsifiable
things that criticise a theory, discredit it and contest it to refute it. Clear hypothesis and clearly operationalised
Define objectivity
No bias or prejudice, multiple researchers present, Quant data and no subjective interpretation
Define reliability
Standardised procedure so can be repeated, inter rater, triangulation
Define experimental
Manipulation of IV and measurement of DV, hypothesis, high control to establish cause and effect
Social
F = Milgram 7 - a clear hypothesis to see if proximity of the experimenter will influence obedience levels and operationalised IV and DV
O= Sherif found qualitative data such as finding boys set up their own norms and rules in their group which can be interpreted in different ways by different researchers leading to subjectivity in the analysis of hostile behaviour
R = Despite having 3 distinct phases: intergroup, frictional, integration it is hard to replicate Sherif study as a field experiment was used
E= Burger used a lab experiment in Santa Clara university so there was high control and variables can be isolated. It also allowed control over extraneous variables such as other people
Cog
F = WMM has been falsified by Liebermann
O = Bartlett gathered qual data on R, L and A
R = Baddeley used a standardised procedure
E = HM individual unique case where variables aren’t controlled so cause and effect conclusions cant be drawn
Bio
F = Brendgen had clear operationalised variables as the Iv was social or physical aggression and the DV was the aggression scores form the peers and teachers
O = This is supported by Raine who used pet scans to find that murders that NGRI had less activity in PFC and left side of amygdala compared to the control group
R = Phineas gage is a unique case study so researchers cannot find another person with the exact same brain damage to the PFC like Phineas. Therefore, his case is unable to be replicated so bio psych can be considered unscientific
E = This is supported by Raine as there is a clear iv being either murderers or non murderers and a clear dv being brain activity. The brain scans were also took place in a highly controlled lab setting.
learning
F = Skinner had a clear hypothesis with operationalised variables as the IV – receiving reinforcement and the DV – Pressing lever. Therefore, can be easily replicated to refute it
O = Watson and Rayner tested to see if a phobia could be conditioned to a white rat. Fear was measured subjectively as behaviour may have been interpreted as fear but could’ve been something else
R = Capafons used a clear standardised procedure: all the participants were rigorously tested on lots of different measures of fear of flying including, interviews, self-report measures & physiological measures both before and after treatment/no
treatment was given over an 8 week period.
E = Bandura study was conducted in a highly controlled artificial setting of a lab therefore they were able to control extraneous variables such as having a control condition where no role model was shown and an experimental condition where an aggressive role model was shown
