PSYC 2101 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
importance of research methods - Answers -1. read reports critically, evaluate methods
employed, and decide wether the conclusions are reasonable
2. knowledge of research methods and the ability to evaluate research reports are
useful in many fields
3. scientific research has become increasingly prominent in public policy decisions
4. important when developing and assessing the effectiveness of programs designed to
achieve certain goals
5. can be the best way to satisfy our native curiosity about self, world and those around
us
importance of research methods - Answers -1. scientific research has become
prominent in public policy/judicial decisions
2. Developing and assessing the effectiveness of goal oriented programs
3. Informed citizens need knowledge of research methods for everyday decisions
4. Many occupations require the use of research findings
ways of knowing - Answers -1. Intuition
2. Authority
3. Empiricism
intuition - Answers -accept unquestioningly what your own personal judgements or a
single story about one persons experience tells you
problem with intuition - Answers -cognitive and motivational biases affect our
perceptions - lead us to draw erroneous conclusions about cause and effect
illusory correlation - Answers -cognitive bias that occurs when we focus on two events
that stand out and occur together
authority - Answers -the scientific approach rejects the notion that one can accept on
faith the statements of any authority
skepticism - Answers -ideas must be evaluated on the basis of careful logic and results
from scientific investigations
empiricism - Answers -the idea that knowledge is based on observations
,the fundamental characteristic of the scientific method - Answers -empiricism
the scientific approach - Answers -1. data plays a central role
2. scientists are not alone
3. science is adversarial
4. scientific evidence is peer reviewed
falsifiability - Answers -good scientific ideas are testable: they can be supported or
falsified by data
if an idea is falsified when tested, science is thereby advanced
peer review - Answers -expert reviewers recommend whether the research should be
published
ensures that research with major flaws will not become part of the scientific literature
pseudoscience - Answers -fake science in which seemingly scientific terms and
demonstrations are used to substantiate claims that have no basis in scientific research
problem with pseudoscience - Answers -hopes are raised and promises will not be
realized
evaluating pseudoscience claims - Answers -Untestable, Cannot be refuted
Rely on imprecise, biased or vague language
Evidence based on anecdotes/testimonials rather than scientific data
Evidence from experts with vague qualifications who support the claim without sound
scientific evidence
Only confirmatory evidence is presented; conflicting evidence is ignored
References to scientific evidence lack information on methods that would allow
independent verification
goals of behavioral science - Answers -1. to describe behavior
2. to predict behavior
3. to determine the causes of behavior
4. to understand or explain behavior
prediction of behavior - Answers -allows us to anticipate events; often helps us make
better decisions
, must occur to conclude causation - Answers -1. temporal precedence
2. covariation of cause and effect
3. elimination of alternative explanations
temporal precedence - Answers -there is a temporal order of events in which the cause
precedes the effect
covariation of cause and effect - Answers -when the cause is present, the effect occurs;
when the cause is not present, the effect does not occur
alternative explanations - Answers -nothing other than a causal variable could be
responsible for the observed effect
basic research - Answers -tries to answer fundamental questions about the nature of
behavior
basic research - Answers -studies often designed to address theoretical issues
concerning phenomena such as cognition, emotion, motivation, learning,
neuropsychology, personality development and social behavior
applied research - Answers -conducted to address issues in which there are practical
problems and potential solutions
program evaluation - Answers -assesses the social reforms and innovations that occur
in government, education, the criminal justice system, industry, healthcare, and mental
health institutions
- a major area of applied research
behavioral research - Answers -important in many fields and has significant
applications to public policy
research question - Answers -a description of the broad topic of study
hypothesis - Answers -a tentative idea or question that is waiting for evidence to
support or refute it
prediction - Answers -a deliberate guess at the answer to the hypothesis
constructs - Answers -theoretical variables that psychologists have ideas about;
intelligence, anxiety, obedience, prejudice
conceptual definition - Answers -different people may have different ideas about the
same construct - different ideas about what the construct is or really means
burger operational definitions - Answers -1. the percentage of participants who
continued the procedure after pressing the 150 volt switch
importance of research methods - Answers -1. read reports critically, evaluate methods
employed, and decide wether the conclusions are reasonable
2. knowledge of research methods and the ability to evaluate research reports are
useful in many fields
3. scientific research has become increasingly prominent in public policy decisions
4. important when developing and assessing the effectiveness of programs designed to
achieve certain goals
5. can be the best way to satisfy our native curiosity about self, world and those around
us
importance of research methods - Answers -1. scientific research has become
prominent in public policy/judicial decisions
2. Developing and assessing the effectiveness of goal oriented programs
3. Informed citizens need knowledge of research methods for everyday decisions
4. Many occupations require the use of research findings
ways of knowing - Answers -1. Intuition
2. Authority
3. Empiricism
intuition - Answers -accept unquestioningly what your own personal judgements or a
single story about one persons experience tells you
problem with intuition - Answers -cognitive and motivational biases affect our
perceptions - lead us to draw erroneous conclusions about cause and effect
illusory correlation - Answers -cognitive bias that occurs when we focus on two events
that stand out and occur together
authority - Answers -the scientific approach rejects the notion that one can accept on
faith the statements of any authority
skepticism - Answers -ideas must be evaluated on the basis of careful logic and results
from scientific investigations
empiricism - Answers -the idea that knowledge is based on observations
,the fundamental characteristic of the scientific method - Answers -empiricism
the scientific approach - Answers -1. data plays a central role
2. scientists are not alone
3. science is adversarial
4. scientific evidence is peer reviewed
falsifiability - Answers -good scientific ideas are testable: they can be supported or
falsified by data
if an idea is falsified when tested, science is thereby advanced
peer review - Answers -expert reviewers recommend whether the research should be
published
ensures that research with major flaws will not become part of the scientific literature
pseudoscience - Answers -fake science in which seemingly scientific terms and
demonstrations are used to substantiate claims that have no basis in scientific research
problem with pseudoscience - Answers -hopes are raised and promises will not be
realized
evaluating pseudoscience claims - Answers -Untestable, Cannot be refuted
Rely on imprecise, biased or vague language
Evidence based on anecdotes/testimonials rather than scientific data
Evidence from experts with vague qualifications who support the claim without sound
scientific evidence
Only confirmatory evidence is presented; conflicting evidence is ignored
References to scientific evidence lack information on methods that would allow
independent verification
goals of behavioral science - Answers -1. to describe behavior
2. to predict behavior
3. to determine the causes of behavior
4. to understand or explain behavior
prediction of behavior - Answers -allows us to anticipate events; often helps us make
better decisions
, must occur to conclude causation - Answers -1. temporal precedence
2. covariation of cause and effect
3. elimination of alternative explanations
temporal precedence - Answers -there is a temporal order of events in which the cause
precedes the effect
covariation of cause and effect - Answers -when the cause is present, the effect occurs;
when the cause is not present, the effect does not occur
alternative explanations - Answers -nothing other than a causal variable could be
responsible for the observed effect
basic research - Answers -tries to answer fundamental questions about the nature of
behavior
basic research - Answers -studies often designed to address theoretical issues
concerning phenomena such as cognition, emotion, motivation, learning,
neuropsychology, personality development and social behavior
applied research - Answers -conducted to address issues in which there are practical
problems and potential solutions
program evaluation - Answers -assesses the social reforms and innovations that occur
in government, education, the criminal justice system, industry, healthcare, and mental
health institutions
- a major area of applied research
behavioral research - Answers -important in many fields and has significant
applications to public policy
research question - Answers -a description of the broad topic of study
hypothesis - Answers -a tentative idea or question that is waiting for evidence to
support or refute it
prediction - Answers -a deliberate guess at the answer to the hypothesis
constructs - Answers -theoretical variables that psychologists have ideas about;
intelligence, anxiety, obedience, prejudice
conceptual definition - Answers -different people may have different ideas about the
same construct - different ideas about what the construct is or really means
burger operational definitions - Answers -1. the percentage of participants who
continued the procedure after pressing the 150 volt switch
