Scientific Method Vocabulary

Question 1

What is the scientific method?

Answer 1

A set of attitudes and procedures for gathering and interpreting objective information in a way that minimizes sources of error and yields dependable generalizations.

or … the basic set of instructions for scientist to follow when they conduct experiments.

Question 2

Hypothesis/guess

Answer 2

Clearly states with the scientist believes will be the outcome of his or her experience, it is a prediction.

Question 3

Independent variable

Answer 3

The part of the experiment that, when introduced, is supposed to cause a change in the behaviour of the test subjects.

Question 4

Dependent variable

Answer 4

The ‘change in behaviour’ that arises because of the independent variable.
The thing you measure.

Question 5

Control group

Answer 5

Identical to the test group, but no independent variable is given to them. - nothing happens to them.

Question 6

Overt behaviour

Answer 6

Behaviour that can be observed in the form of a physical response.

Question 7

Covert behaviours

Answer 7

Behaviours that are not detectible by the human observer.

Question 8

Empirical evidence

Answer 8

The data (reports from observations) carefully obtained during an experiment.

Question 9

Why do scientists use statistics?

Answer 9

They are used to support mathematically the notion that their results were caused by the independent variable rather than just a chance occurrence.

Question 10

Vivisection

Answer 10

Dissection or other painful treatment of living animals for purposes of scientific research.

Question 11

What must scientist be careful about when having human subjects in studies?

Answer 11

• It is unethical to cause human test subjects undue stress and anxiety.
• All human test subjects must be given the right to leave an experiment anytime they begin to feel uncomfortable.
• Upon request, at the end of the testing, subjects must also be informed of the true nature of the test.
• Any researchers treating human test subjects in an unethical manner face being arrested, sued, fired, or censored by the scientific community.

Question 12

What are the two major goals of developmental psychology?

Answer 12

1. To describe the behaviour of children at each stage of their development.
2. To identify the causes and processes that produce changes in behaviour from one stage to the next.

Question 13

Experimental group

Answer 13

These have something happened to them.
One variable is altered.

Question 14

Qualitative data

Answer 14

Relies on descriptions like soft, dry, yellow

Question 15

Quantitative data

Answer 15

Relies on numbers. Statistics.