WWU Mana Psych 101: Chapter 2 (Scientific Method

Question 1

Empirical Challenges in Psychology

Answer 1

Complexity of the brain, variability in humans, reactivity (people act differently when observed)

Question 2

To Avoid Demand Characteristics

Answer 2

Private Interactions/anonymous
Observing relatable behaviors not directly associated with behavior
Cover stories/unrelated questions to distract participant from true purpose of study
blind/double blind

Question 3

Scientific Method

Answer 3

Formal way of asking questions and understanding things, changes industrial world, through emperical evidence

Question 4

Empirical Evidence

Answer 4

Knowledge Obtained through Experience

Question 5

Duchenne Smile

Answer 5

Real Smile, involves the eyes

Question 6

7 steps of Scientific method

Answer 6

1. Specify Problem
2. Develop Operational Definitions
3. Form Hypothesis
4. Design study
5. Conduct study
6. Form a unifying theory
7. Test a theory

Question 7

Frequency Distribution

Answer 7

Arranged by number of times each measurement was made

Question 8

Normal Distribution

Answer 8

Mathematically defined distribution in which frequency of measurements highest in middle and decreases in both directions (bell curse)

Question 9

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 9

Central Tendency: mode median mean

Variablity: Range

SD: Average distance and mean of frequency distribution

Question 10

Key

Answer 10

Test of Hypothesis, prediction of something

Question 11

Data

Answer 11

Number that identify objective observations

Question 12

Empirical Method

Answer 12

Formal set of rules for observing or measuring a phenomenon of interest

Question 13

Theory

Answer 13

Hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon

Question 14

Parsimony

Answer 14

Simplest theory is the best one

Question 15

Hypothesis

Answer 15

Falsifiable prediction made by a theory

Question 16

Observe

Answer 16

Use senses to learn about object or event properties

Question 17

Measure

Answer 17

Define property and find a way to detect it

Question 18

Operational Definition

Answer 18

Description in concrete, measurable terms

Question 19

Instrument

Answer 19

Anything that can be used to detect condition of operational definition, referral (good one has validity, reliability, and power)

Question 20

Demand Characteristics

Answer 20

Aspects of an observational setting that cause people to behave as someone wants or expect

Question 21

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 21

Technique for gathering scientific data by unobtrusively observing people in natural environments

Question 22

Descriptive Studies

Answer 22

Lead people to begin to ask questions of relationships between factors they are describing, use correlatives statistics to quantify relationships (changes synchronized with other changes

Naturalistic observations
Case Studies
Surveys

Question 23

Positive Correlations

Answer 23

x increases, so does y

Question 24

Negative correlation

Answer 24

x increases, y decreases

Question 25

Zero Correlation

Answer 25

No relationship between x and y

Question 26

Third Variable Problem

Answer 26

Many different variable might impact relationships between two variables of study

Question 27

Experiments

Answer 27

Eliminate third variable problem with random assignment and manipulation Measure dependent variable

Question 28

Random Assignment

Answer 28

randomly separated into groups that undergo different levels of an independent variable

Question 29

Quasi Experiments

Answer 29

Like experiment but random assignment is not possible WEIRD

Question 30

Good Research Designs

Answer 30

Reduce Bias in measuring behavior Control Participant expectancy Maintain High Ethical Standards

Question 31

Science Ethics

Answer 31

Minimalize discomfort/pain | Supervision fro trained experts

Question 32

Natural Correlation

Answer 32

Correlations observed in the world around us

Question 33

Manipulation

Answer 33

Changing variable to determines causal power (independent variable) Creates experimental and control group

Question 34

Third Varibale Correlation

Answer 34

Two variable correlation due to an unseen relationship to a third variable

Question 35

Matched Samples technique

Answer 35

Participants in 2 groups are identical in terms of a third variable

Question 36

Experimentation

Answer 36

Establishing causal relationships between variables

Question 37

Interal Validity

Answer 37

Attribute of experiment allows it to establish causal relationships

Question 38

External Validity

Answer 38

Attribute of experiment in which variable have been defined in normal, typical, realistic ways

Question 39

Sample

Answer 39

Partial collection of people drawn from population

Question 40

Case study

Answer 40

Procedure for gathering scientific info by studying single individual

Question 41

Random Sampling

Answer 41

technique for choosing participants that ensures that every member of population has equal chance of being in sample (representative)