Unit 2: Chapter 1 part II: (pp15-28) Flashcards
(20 cards)
List the three process in the discovery of regularities.
The goal of discovering regularities can be considered in three ways: the description of behavior, the discovery of lawful relationships among aspects of behavior, and the search for causes.
Define a theory both in broad and strict terms.
-Broadly speaking, a theory is a statement or set of statements about the relationships among variables. If the statements concern only a single relationship between variables, we are speaking of a law.
-a statement or set of statements explaining one or more laws, usually including one indirect concept needed to explain the relationship
According to Sir Karl Popper can a theory be proven true? Why or why not? What may be an adequate response to this issue from a scientists perspective
No, because there are many false theories that can predict any given outcome. No matter how many times a theory predicts the expected results, there may be a theory out there that is actually true.
We can never prove the theory to be true for certain, but we gain more confidence in the theory the more tests it survives
What are the roles theories play in science? (3)
(1) organizing knowledge and explaining laws,
(2) predicting new laws, and
(3) guiding research. (p22)
What is a hypothesis? How is a hypothesis related to a theory? Give an example.
A hypothesis is a statement that is assumed to be true for the purpose of testing its validity. It serves to make statements by the theory testable.
Define operational definition?
The state-
statement of the precise meaning of a procedure or concept within an experiment
Define convergent operations
converging operations:
using different operational definitions to arrive at the meaning of a concep
What is a paradigm?
a set of laws, theories, methods, and applications that form a scientific research tradi- tion; for example, Pavlov- ian conditioning (p26)
What is the role of description in the discovery of regularities? Provide an example that illustrates the importance of this step.
Define your terms.
What is a theory, what is the difference between a theory and a law?
Theory is a set of statements that organize a large body of facts (laws) into a single explanatory system.
A law explains the cause and effect relationship between only two varriables
What is a law, give an example of a law.
a statement that certain events are regularly associated with each other in an orderly way
List the levels of observation (3)
1) Naturalistic observation
2) Correlation Research
3) Causal Research
Define null hypothesis
The null hypothesis represents a statement of no relationships among the variables.
What are the four measurement scales of variables? Which is the highest?
(1) the nominal,
(2) ordinal,
(3) interval
(4) ratio scales.
[Ratio]
What is the nominal scale? Provide an example.
The nominal scale, which is the lowest level, serves a classification function only
Humans represent #1
Animals represent #2
All animals, despite variety fit under #2
What is the ordinal scale of variables?
The ordinal scale possesses the magnitude property in addition to the difference property, and ranks objects or events in order of the magnitude of an attribute
Favourite vegetables
1) peas
2) brocoli etc. (
There isboth kind and magnitude
What is the interval scale of variables?
a measure in which the differences between numbers are meaningful; includes both nominal and ordinal information
Vegetables:
Peas 10
Brocoli 8.5 etc
What is the ratio scale of variables? What is a meaningless zero?
Ratio scale, which has all four properties. The ratio scale has a true zero point, meaning that zero represents the true absence of what is being measured.
A meaningless zero is when it represents the bottom of a ratio instead of scale from -5-+5 for example
Vegetables
Peas 10
Brocoli 0
Asparagus -5
What is the difference between a reliable and valid measurement?
Can a measurement be both unreliable and valid? Why or why not?
A reliable measurement is one that shows consistency over time. A valid measurement is one that reflects accurately the variable under study.
No - I’m not sure why yet
Why does Nico’s mother know more about his liking for vegetables than Jessica’s mother does about Jessica’s vegetable preferences. (126) [Difference between ordinal and interval scale]
Nico’s scale was more specific. Jessica rated her least to most favorite simply by rank while Nico rated his through a numerical value that illustrates the interval gap between favoirites
ex 5,4,3,2,1-Jessica
ex 5, 3.3, 2.4, 1.6-Nico
