What is the primary focus of Chapter 1 in the course? - ANSWER-Empiricism & the
Cycles of Science
What are the two roles of research discussed? - ANSWER-Research consumer and
research producer
What does a research consumer do? - ANSWER-Reads about research to apply it to
their lives
What does a research producer do? - ANSWER-Conducts scientific research
Why are research producers important? - ANSWER-They are generally in a trusted
position for accurate information.
What is the difference between intuition and empiricism? - ANSWER-Intuition is gut-
feeling decision making, while empiricism is data-based decision making.
What is a theory? - ANSWER-An integrated set of principles that explain and predict
observed events.
What is a hypothesis? - ANSWER-A testable proposition that describes a relationship
that may exist between events.
What does the Theory-Data Cycle involve? - ANSWER-Having a theory, generating a
hypothesis, collecting data, and modifying the theory based on new data.
What is the difference between scientific journals and journalism? - ANSWER-Scientific
journals are peer-reviewed and mainly for scientists, while journalism is accessible to
the general public and may misinterpret findings.
What is meant by 'falsifiable' in the context of a good theory? - ANSWER-A good theory
must be able to be proven false if it is incorrect.
What does 'Occam's Razor' suggest? - ANSWER-Entities should not be multiplied
without necessity.
What should researchers avoid saying about their findings? - ANSWER-They should
avoid saying 'prove' and instead say 'the data do not support or are inconsistent with a
theory.'
, What is the significance of the Cupboard Theory vs. Contact Comfort Theory? -
ANSWER-It illustrates different perspectives on attachment in psychology, derived from
Harlow's Rhesus Monkey Research.
What is the role of hypotheses in research? - ANSWER-Hypotheses provide direction to
research and allow testing of theories.
What does the term 'empirical inquiry' refer to? - ANSWER-The process of using
theories and data to investigate questions and phenomena.
What is the importance of systematic observations in research? - ANSWER-They
provide reliable and valid data compared to unstructured observations.
What is the main goal of the peer-review cycle? - ANSWER-To validate research
findings before they are published in scientific journals.
Why do scientists, including psychologists, value research-based conclusions? -
ANSWER-They value them over beliefs based on experience, intuition, or authority.
What is a confounding variable? - ANSWER-An uncontrolled variable that may be
influencing behavior.
What are the advantages of empirical research? - ANSWER-Data driven, multiple data
points, and can be replicated.
What is a disadvantage of empirical research? - ANSWER-It predicts what is probable
and studies averages.
What is the Good Story Bias? - ANSWER-Accepting a conclusion because it sounds
good or has a desirable message.
What is the Availability Heuristic? - ANSWER-Judging events that are remembered
more easily as being more likely to occur.
What does Present/Present Bias refer to? - ANSWER-The tendency to notice what is
present and fail to consider what is missing.
What is the Bias Blind Spot? - ANSWER-The belief that we are unlikely to be affected
by biases.
What should you evaluate when confronted with claims? - ANSWER-Evaluate the
claims fully, regardless of the source.
What is the typical structure of a journal article? - ANSWER-Title Page, Abstract,
Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, References.
What is the first step when reading an empirical article? - ANSWER-Start with the
Abstract.
What should you do after reading the Abstract of an empirical article? - ANSWER-Skip
to the end of the Introduction, then read the rest.
What sections should you look at after the Abstract and Introduction? - ANSWER-The
beginning of the Discussion, then the Method and Results sections.
What are the problems with making decisions based on experiences? - ANSWER-
Single data point, situational variance, outliers, anecdotal evidence, and no comparison
group.
What is experiential knowledge? - ANSWER-Knowledge gained through personal
experience, which can be misleading.
What is the importance of controlling for confounding variables in research? -
ANSWER-To ensure that the results are valid and not influenced by external factors.
What is the significance of multiple data points in empirical research? - ANSWER-They
provide a more reliable basis for conclusions than single data points.
Cycles of Science
What are the two roles of research discussed? - ANSWER-Research consumer and
research producer
What does a research consumer do? - ANSWER-Reads about research to apply it to
their lives
What does a research producer do? - ANSWER-Conducts scientific research
Why are research producers important? - ANSWER-They are generally in a trusted
position for accurate information.
What is the difference between intuition and empiricism? - ANSWER-Intuition is gut-
feeling decision making, while empiricism is data-based decision making.
What is a theory? - ANSWER-An integrated set of principles that explain and predict
observed events.
What is a hypothesis? - ANSWER-A testable proposition that describes a relationship
that may exist between events.
What does the Theory-Data Cycle involve? - ANSWER-Having a theory, generating a
hypothesis, collecting data, and modifying the theory based on new data.
What is the difference between scientific journals and journalism? - ANSWER-Scientific
journals are peer-reviewed and mainly for scientists, while journalism is accessible to
the general public and may misinterpret findings.
What is meant by 'falsifiable' in the context of a good theory? - ANSWER-A good theory
must be able to be proven false if it is incorrect.
What does 'Occam's Razor' suggest? - ANSWER-Entities should not be multiplied
without necessity.
What should researchers avoid saying about their findings? - ANSWER-They should
avoid saying 'prove' and instead say 'the data do not support or are inconsistent with a
theory.'
, What is the significance of the Cupboard Theory vs. Contact Comfort Theory? -
ANSWER-It illustrates different perspectives on attachment in psychology, derived from
Harlow's Rhesus Monkey Research.
What is the role of hypotheses in research? - ANSWER-Hypotheses provide direction to
research and allow testing of theories.
What does the term 'empirical inquiry' refer to? - ANSWER-The process of using
theories and data to investigate questions and phenomena.
What is the importance of systematic observations in research? - ANSWER-They
provide reliable and valid data compared to unstructured observations.
What is the main goal of the peer-review cycle? - ANSWER-To validate research
findings before they are published in scientific journals.
Why do scientists, including psychologists, value research-based conclusions? -
ANSWER-They value them over beliefs based on experience, intuition, or authority.
What is a confounding variable? - ANSWER-An uncontrolled variable that may be
influencing behavior.
What are the advantages of empirical research? - ANSWER-Data driven, multiple data
points, and can be replicated.
What is a disadvantage of empirical research? - ANSWER-It predicts what is probable
and studies averages.
What is the Good Story Bias? - ANSWER-Accepting a conclusion because it sounds
good or has a desirable message.
What is the Availability Heuristic? - ANSWER-Judging events that are remembered
more easily as being more likely to occur.
What does Present/Present Bias refer to? - ANSWER-The tendency to notice what is
present and fail to consider what is missing.
What is the Bias Blind Spot? - ANSWER-The belief that we are unlikely to be affected
by biases.
What should you evaluate when confronted with claims? - ANSWER-Evaluate the
claims fully, regardless of the source.
What is the typical structure of a journal article? - ANSWER-Title Page, Abstract,
Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, References.
What is the first step when reading an empirical article? - ANSWER-Start with the
Abstract.
What should you do after reading the Abstract of an empirical article? - ANSWER-Skip
to the end of the Introduction, then read the rest.
What sections should you look at after the Abstract and Introduction? - ANSWER-The
beginning of the Discussion, then the Method and Results sections.
What are the problems with making decisions based on experiences? - ANSWER-
Single data point, situational variance, outliers, anecdotal evidence, and no comparison
group.
What is experiential knowledge? - ANSWER-Knowledge gained through personal
experience, which can be misleading.
What is the importance of controlling for confounding variables in research? -
ANSWER-To ensure that the results are valid and not influenced by external factors.
What is the significance of multiple data points in empirical research? - ANSWER-They
provide a more reliable basis for conclusions than single data points.
