PSYC 375 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
z-score - Answer -Provides information about a single score
• Translates a score into standardized language
• Useful for comparisons
Compared to the sample/population
How many standard deviations from the mean a score is located
descriptive methods - Answer -observe what occurs
Observational method:
Positives: Flexibility, Exploration, Ecological validity
Negatives: No control, Subjectivity
Case study:
Positives: Explore rare cases
Negatives: No generalization, Subjectivity
Survey (can also be predictive):
Positives: Large samples, Easy & efficient
Negatives: Question wording, Response bias
causal determinism - Answer -phenomena are causally determined by preceding
events or natural laws
Scientific Method - Answer -The process of observing a phenomenon, asking a
question; determining what is already known about that question, constructing a
hypothesis, collecting data, analyzing data, interpreting data and reporting results,
revising a theory and circling back to ask a new question or create a new hypothesis
rationalism - Answer -logical reasoning
Empiricism - Answer -measurable evidence through the senses
provisionality - Answer -always open to revision, theories must be adjusted in light of
new evidence
systematic empiricism - Answer -making observations in a systematic manner (stages
of research process) to test hypotheses and refute or develop a theory through
measurable evidence through the senses
Publically Verifiable Knowledge - Answer -Peer review process: public presentation,
feedback, & criticism
Importance of replication
, Empirically solvable problems (falsifiability) - Answer -Falsifiability: disconfirmation must
be possible
What would the data look like if the hypothesis is unsupported?
Basic vs. Applied Research - Answer -Basic research: Seek knowledge for the sake of
knowledge Seek initial evidence for unexplored questions
Often lab studies &experiments
Typically university setting research
Applied research: Seek knowledge that has practical significance
Apply initial evidence from basic research to solve "real world" problems
E.g., business, education, medicine, law
pseudoscience - Answer -Non-scientific claims that may sound scientific but fail to meet
key criteria of scientific research
theory - Answer -A related group of empirical findings that help explain a specific
phenomenon
variable - Answer -A condition or characteristic that is subject to change (i.e., capable
of taking on different levels, categories, or values)
operational definition - Answer -how variables are defined in terms of manipulation or
measurement/ definition of what you are studying in terms of how you will assess it in a
study
rationale - Answer -justification of the study; who benefits?
hypothesis - Answer -a specific, testable prediction
research design - Answer -how variables are measured/manipulated in your study
procedure - Answer -1. Informed consent
2. Manipulations - only if experiment
3. Measures
4. Demographics
5. Debriefing
descriptive statistics - Answer -collecting, summarizing, organizing, and presenting the
data (mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, variance)
inferential statistics - Answer -making inference, hypothesis testing, determining
relationships, making predictions (Cronbach's alpha, Pearson's r)
statistical significance - Answer -are the effects observed due to the changing levels of
the factors real or due to random chance?
z-score - Answer -Provides information about a single score
• Translates a score into standardized language
• Useful for comparisons
Compared to the sample/population
How many standard deviations from the mean a score is located
descriptive methods - Answer -observe what occurs
Observational method:
Positives: Flexibility, Exploration, Ecological validity
Negatives: No control, Subjectivity
Case study:
Positives: Explore rare cases
Negatives: No generalization, Subjectivity
Survey (can also be predictive):
Positives: Large samples, Easy & efficient
Negatives: Question wording, Response bias
causal determinism - Answer -phenomena are causally determined by preceding
events or natural laws
Scientific Method - Answer -The process of observing a phenomenon, asking a
question; determining what is already known about that question, constructing a
hypothesis, collecting data, analyzing data, interpreting data and reporting results,
revising a theory and circling back to ask a new question or create a new hypothesis
rationalism - Answer -logical reasoning
Empiricism - Answer -measurable evidence through the senses
provisionality - Answer -always open to revision, theories must be adjusted in light of
new evidence
systematic empiricism - Answer -making observations in a systematic manner (stages
of research process) to test hypotheses and refute or develop a theory through
measurable evidence through the senses
Publically Verifiable Knowledge - Answer -Peer review process: public presentation,
feedback, & criticism
Importance of replication
, Empirically solvable problems (falsifiability) - Answer -Falsifiability: disconfirmation must
be possible
What would the data look like if the hypothesis is unsupported?
Basic vs. Applied Research - Answer -Basic research: Seek knowledge for the sake of
knowledge Seek initial evidence for unexplored questions
Often lab studies &experiments
Typically university setting research
Applied research: Seek knowledge that has practical significance
Apply initial evidence from basic research to solve "real world" problems
E.g., business, education, medicine, law
pseudoscience - Answer -Non-scientific claims that may sound scientific but fail to meet
key criteria of scientific research
theory - Answer -A related group of empirical findings that help explain a specific
phenomenon
variable - Answer -A condition or characteristic that is subject to change (i.e., capable
of taking on different levels, categories, or values)
operational definition - Answer -how variables are defined in terms of manipulation or
measurement/ definition of what you are studying in terms of how you will assess it in a
study
rationale - Answer -justification of the study; who benefits?
hypothesis - Answer -a specific, testable prediction
research design - Answer -how variables are measured/manipulated in your study
procedure - Answer -1. Informed consent
2. Manipulations - only if experiment
3. Measures
4. Demographics
5. Debriefing
descriptive statistics - Answer -collecting, summarizing, organizing, and presenting the
data (mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, variance)
inferential statistics - Answer -making inference, hypothesis testing, determining
relationships, making predictions (Cronbach's alpha, Pearson's r)
statistical significance - Answer -are the effects observed due to the changing levels of
the factors real or due to random chance?
