Research Methods Lecture Flashcards
What is a scientific theory?
an explanation for a phenomenon that can be falsified and that involves entities that cannot be directly observed
What does it mean for a scientific theory to be falsifiable?
there must be some hypothetical facts that would prove the theory false
What is a hypothesis?
a prediction about observable events
What is a case study?
a description of the behavior or abilities of a single individual
Which school of Psychology used case studies as their primary research technique?
psychoanalysts
What research technique in Psychology is most subject to the problem of confirmation bias?
Case studies
What is naturalistic observation?
a research technique in which the researcher observes and describes behavior
What research technique did Jane Goodall use to study the chimpanzees?
Naturalistic observations
What are naturalistic observations good for?
answering simple questions
What is the correlational approach?
attempts to determine the relationship between variables without manipulating the variables
What are the two circumstances when a Psychologist would use the correlational approach?
When manipulating the variables would be:
a. Impossible or very difficult
b. unethical
What is causation?
a causal relationship exists if a change in one variable results in a change in the other
Can the correlational approach be used to determine if two variables have a causal relationship?
No
If two variables have a perfect positive relationship, what would be the value of the correlation co-efficient for those variables?
+1
What does it mean if the correlation co-efficient between two variables is near 0?
the relationship is very weak
