2.1 Psychologists Use the Scientific Method to Guide Their Research

Question 1

Basic research

Answer 1

research that answers fundamental questions about behavior

Question 2

Applied research

Answer 2

research that investigates issues that have implications for everyday life and provides solutions to everyday problems

Question 3

peer review

Answer 3

the research reported in scientific journals has been evaluated, critiqued, and improved by scientists in the field

Question 4

the statements made by psychologists are empirical

Answer 4

means they are based on systematic collection and analysis of data.

Question 5

scientific method

Answer 5

the set of assumptions, rules, and procedures scientists use to conduct research

Question 6

objective

Answer 6

free from the personal bias or emotions of the scientist

Question 7

laws

Answer 7

principles that are so general as to apply to all situations in a given domain of inquiry

Question 8

theory

Answer 8

an integrated set of principles that explains and predicts many, but not all, observed relationships within a given domain of inquiry

Question 9

What are the 4 important characteristics for a good theory?

Answer 9

First, good theories are general, meaning they summarize many different outcomes. Second, they are parsimonious, meaning they provide the simplest possible account of those outcomes. Third, good theories provide ideas for future research. Finally, good theories are falsifiable which means the variables of interest can be adequately measured and the relationships between the variables that are predicted by the theory can be shown through research to be incorrect.

Question 10

research hypothesis

Answer 10

a specific and falsifiable prediction about the relationship between or among two or more variables, where a variable is any attribute that can assume different values among different people or across different times or places

Question 11

Conceptual variables

Answer 11

abstract ideas that form the basis of research hypotheses

Question 12

measured variables

Answer 12

variables consisting of numbers that represent the conceptual variables

Question 13

operational definition

Answer 13

used to refer to a precise statement of how a conceptual variable is turned into a measured variable

Question 14

Aggression

Answer 14

• Number of presses of a button that administers shock to another student
• Number of seconds taken to honk the horn at the car ahead after a stoplight turns green

Question 15

Interpersonal attraction

Answer 15

• Number of inches that an individual places his or her chair away from another person
• Number of millimeters of pupil dilation when one person looks at another

Question 16

Employee satisfaction

Answer 16

• Number of days per month an employee shows up to work on time
• Rating of job satisfaction from 1 (not at all satisfied) to 9 (extremely satisfied)

Question 17

Decision-making skills

Answer 17

• Number of groups able to correctly solve a group performance task
• Number of seconds in which a person solves a problem

Question 18

Depression

Answer 18

• Number of negative words used in a creative story

- Number of appointments made with a psychotherapist

Question 19

What is a concern of ethical research?

Answer 19

to not harm the patients

Question 20

Deception

Answer 20

occurs whenever research participants are not completely and fully informed about the nature of the research project before participating in it

Question 21

cost-benefit analysis

Answer 21

the costs are compared to the benefits

Question 22

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Answer 22

a committee of at least five members whose goal it is to determine the cost-benefit ratio of research conducted within an institution

Question 23

informed consent

Answer 23

• One important tool for ensuring that research is ethical
• conducted before a participant begins a research session, is designed to explain the research procedures and inform the participant of his or her rights during the investigation

Question 24

debriefing

Answer 24

a procedure designed to fully explain the purposes and procedures of the research and remove any harmful aftereffects of participation