Task 1: what is science?

Question 1

def: Basic research

Answer 1

aquire general information about a phenomenon

Question 2

def: Applied research

Answer 2

generate information which can be applied directly to a real-world problem

Question 3

def: confirmation bias

Answer 3

people tend to look for information which confirms their beliefs and ignore information that disproves them

Question 4

What qualifies a good hypothesis ? ( name 4 )

Answer 4

• connected to prior research
• testable/observable/measurable/falsifiable
• positive statement
• as parsimonious (sparsam) as possible

Question 5

Cialdini`s two step model of research

Answer 5

I. Identifying prey
=phenomenon you want to study
II. trapping
=identifying factors crucial to explaining phenomenon

Question 6

def: Protoscience

Answer 6

at edge of current knowledge,

researching unconfirmed phenomenon ( e.g. computer science used to be)

Question 7

def: Pseudoscience

Answer 7

Protoscience which cannot be verified

Synonym: false science

Question 8

def: Non-Science

Answer 8

applies systematic techniques to acquisition of information, BUT lacks any testing to prove it (e.g. Philosophy)

Question 9

criteria for a valid explanation (name 7)

Answer 9

• empirical = based on objective & systematic observations
• rational = under rules of logic
• testable
• parsimonious = if more explanations offered, one with fewest number of assumptions
• general = minimum number of circumstances
• tentative = possibility that explanation is faulty
• rigorously evaluated = hart bewertet

Question 10

def: commonsense explanation

Answer 10

rather loose, based on own sense of world, find explanation with few information

e. g. ppl accuse police office to be a racist bc he shot a black boy
- > often not general enough to explain observed behavior

Question 11

def: belief-based explanation

Answer 11

does not require evidence, if evidence is found which proves them incorrect they reinterpret evidence (religious)

Question 12

def: pseudoexplanations

Answer 12

does not serve valid, scientific explanation even though it may sound scientific
e.g. aggression as an instinct -> not true

Question 13

def: circular explanation/ tautology

Answer 13

observed behaviour is used to prove existence of aggression instinct -> concept of instinct is then used to explain behaviour

Question 14

def: method of authority

Answer 14

expert sources (book or ppl)
does not always provide valid answers
bc ppl might know sth but still give expertises opinion
-> not authoritative
often include personal opinion

Question 15

def: rational method

Answer 15

logical reasoning

e.g. I think, therefore I exist

Question 16

def: scientific method (4 steps)

Answer 16

I. observing event + potential causes
II. formulating Hypothesis
III. further observation or experimenting
IV. refining and retesting explanations

Question 17

def: refinement process

Answer 17

generating more specific hypothesis in scientific method research
must be tested just as first hypothesis

Question 18

def: a theory

Answer 18

a plausible or scientifically acceptable, well substantiated explanation of some aspect of natural world
-not same as hypothesis ! ( which is relatively simple, less complex)

Question 19

functions of a theory (name 4)

Answer 19

understanding theory
making predictions
organizing research design
generating new questions

Question 20

def: confirmational strategy

Answer 20

used to test theories
= identifying implications (Konsequenzen), setting up situation, observing if predicted effects occur

BUT many alternative theories could potentially be constructed

Question 21

def: disconfirmational strategy

Answer 21

to test theory

A is proved right, so B has to be false, but if B is true too theorie´s prediction is disconfirmed

Question 22

def: Kuhn`s effect

Answer 22

most theories getting support even after disconfirming evidence has been found, simply because amount of effort went into it, people cling to the concept

Question 23

def: mechanistic explanation

Answer 23

describes a mechanism: cause &effect or how does it work?

Question 24

def: functional explanation

Answer 24

describes only what the system does ( its function), why does this attribute exist?

Question 25

def: deception

Answer 25

=Täuschung
actively mislead participants or withhold information
-because some things can only be observed when you catch people off guard

Question 26

def: cost-benefit-analysis

Answer 26

benefits of the research have to overweight the costs for it to be worth it

Question 27

def: social contrast theory

Answer 27

one party willingly gives up part of their human rights in favour of the more powerful other party

Question 28

ethnic codes concerning deception (name 5)

Answer 28

• necessary as last resort
• participants are informed, that possibility of deception exists
• potential vulnerability of subjects are taken into account
• researcher have to be willing to go through themselves
• participants act in good faith

Question 29

consequences of deception

Answer 29

loss of trust in science, bad reputation on psychology & research in general
-> people need to be dehoaxed ( hoax = verarschen)

Question 30

solutions to prevent deception

Answer 30

role playing
obtaining prior consent ( zuvor Einwilligung holen)
full debriefing (Nachbesprechung)

Question 31

def: Nuremberg code

Answer 31

guideline for many current ethical standards

Question 32

what says the Declaration of Helsinki ?

Answer 32

researchers are responsible to protect their subjects` health, welfare & dignity

Question 33

def: beneficence

Answer 33

minimize harm, maxime benefits

Question 34

categories of research fraud (name 3)

Answer 34

• data fabrication (=Lügenmärchen)
• falsification (e.g. manipulating materials)
• Plagiarism (using sth without appropriate credits)

Question 35

how to prevent fraud (name 5)

Answer 35

• strengthen culture of integrity (=Richtigkeit) eg teach students
• require multiple authors to verify data
• peer view system
• independent researcher to review raw data
• remove bias against null (=nichtige) result