Chapter 2 Methods Flashcards

1
Q

Empiricism

A

The belief that accurate knowledge can be acquired through observation.

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2
Q

Scientific Method

A

A set of principles about the appropriate relationship between ideas and evidence.

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3
Q

Theory

A

A hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon.

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4
Q

Hypothesis.

A

A falsafiable prediction made by a theory.

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5
Q

Rule of Parsimony for Theory

A

Find the simplest theory.

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6
Q

William Ockham

A

K.I.S.S.

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7
Q

Evidence never ___ theory.

A

Proves.

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8
Q

Empirical Method

A

A set of rules and techniques for observation.

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9
Q

Operational Definition

A

A description of a property in concrete, measurable terms.

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10
Q

Two kinds of methods that help overcome the difficulty in studying humans:

A

Observataion, which determines what they do, and explanation, which determines why they do it.

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11
Q

Good measures have three things:

A

Validity, reliability, and power.

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12
Q

Measure

A

A device that can detect the condition to which an operationl definition refers.

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13
Q

EMG

A

Electromyograph, a device that measures muscle contractions under the surface of a person’s skin.

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14
Q

Validity

A

The extent to which a measurement and a property are conceptually related.

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15
Q

Reliability

A

The tendency for a measure to produce the same measurement whenever it is used to measure the same thing.

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16
Q

Power

A

The ability of a measure to detect the concrete conditions specified in the operational definition.

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17
Q

Demand Characteristics

A

Thse aspects of an observation; setting that cause people to bahave as they think they should.

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18
Q

Naturalistic Observation

A

A technique for gathering scientific information by unobtrusively observing people in their natural environments.

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19
Q

Cover Stories

A

Misleading explanations that are meant to keep people from discerning the true purpose of of an observation.

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20
Q

Filler Items

A

Pointless measures that are designed to mislead you about the true purpose of the observation.

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21
Q

Expectations can influence ___ and ___.

A

Observations, reality.

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22
Q

Double Blind

A

An observation whose true purpose is hidden from both the observer and the person being observed.

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23
Q

Frequency Distribution

A

A graphical representation of measurements arranged by the number of times each measurement was made.

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24
Q

Normal Distribution

A

A mathematically defined frequency distribution in which most measurements are concentrated around the middle.

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25
Q

Mode

A

Most frequently occuring measurement.

26
Q

Mean

A

Average of measurements.

27
Q

Median

A

Middle memasurement.

28
Q

Descriptive Statistics

A

Brief summary statements that capture essential information about frequency distribution.

29
Q

Two types of descriptive statistics:

A

Central tendency and variability.

30
Q

When a graph is positively skewed, the mean, median, and mode are shifted…

A

Left.

31
Q

When a graph is negatively skewed, the mean, median, and mode are shifted…

A

Right.

32
Q

Range

A

The value of the largest measurement in a frequency distribution minus the value of the smallest frequency.

33
Q

Standard Deviation

A

A statistic that describes the average difference between the measurements in a frequency distribution and the mean of that distribution.

34
Q

Scientific research aims to establish…

A

Causal relationships between properties.

35
Q

Variable

A

A property whose value can vary across individuals or over time.

36
Q

Correlation

A

Two variables are said to be correlated when variations in the value of one variable are synchronized with variation in the value of the other.

37
Q

Positive Correlation

A

More-more or less-less.

38
Q

Negative Correlation

A

More-less or less-more.

39
Q

Correlation Coefficient

A

Measure of the direction and strength of a correlation.

40
Q

Natural Correlation

A

A correlation observed in the world around us.

41
Q

Third-Variable Correlation

A

The fact that two variables are correlated only because each is causally related to a third variable.

42
Q

Matched Samples

A

A technique whereby the participants in two groups are identical in terms of a third variable.

43
Q

Matched Pairs

A

A technique whereby each participant is identical to one other participant in terms of a third variable.

44
Q

Third Variable Problem

A

The fact that a causal relationship between two variables cannot be infererred from the naturally occuring correlation between them because of the ever-present possibility of third-variable correlation.

45
Q

Experiment

A

A technique for establishing the causal relationship between variables.

46
Q

Experiments can eliminate differences by ___ and ___.

A

Manipulation and random assignment.

47
Q

Manipulation

A

Creation of an artificial pattern of variation in a variable on irder to determine its causal powers.

48
Q

Independent Variable

A

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment.

49
Q

Experimental Group

A

The group of people who are treated in a particular way, as compated to the control group, in an experiment.

50
Q

Control Group

A

The group of people who are not treated in the particular way that the experimental group is treated in an experiment.

51
Q

Dependent Variable

A

The variable that is measured in a study.

52
Q

Self-Selection

A

A problem that occus when anything about a person determines whether he or she will be included in the experimental or control group.

53
Q

Random Assignment

A

A procedure that uses a random event to assign people to the experimental or control group.

54
Q

Internal Validity

A

The characteristic of an experiment that establishes the causal relationship between variables.

55
Q

External Validity

A

A property of an experiment in which the variables have been operationally defined in a normal, typical, or realistic way.

56
Q

Population

A

The complete collection of participants who might possibly be measured.

57
Q

Sample

A

The partial collection of people drawn from a population.

58
Q

Case Method.

A

A method of gathering scientific knowledge by studying a single individual.

59
Q

Random Sampling

A

A technique for chooseing participants that ensures that every member of a population has an equal chance of being included in the sample.

60
Q

Informed Consent

A

A written agreement to participate in a study made by an adult who has been informed of all risks that participation may entail.

61
Q

Debriefing

A

A verbal description of the true nature and purpose of the study.