Fallacies
The error of assuming that because one thing is associated with another, it must cause the other.
What is the "correlation-causation fallacy"
Something that can be disproved.
What is "falsifiable"?
Uses introspection to identify basic elements or "structures" of experience.
What is "Structuralism"?
Randomly sorting participants into two groups.
What is "random assignment"?
Demonstration that a given psychological phenomenon can occur.
What is "existence proof"?
The error of believing we're immune from errors in thinking that afflict other people.
What is the "not-me fallacy"?
The ability for a study's findings to be duplicated.
What is "replicability"?
Focuses on uncovering the general principles of learning that explain all behaviors; the focus is largely on observable behavior.
What is "Behaviorism"?
In an experiment, the group of participants that receive the manipulation.
What is an "experimental group"?
Watching behavior in real-world settings without trying to manipulate the situation.
What is a "naturalistic observation"?
The error of framing a question as though we can only answer it in one of two extreme ways.
What is the "either-or fallacy"?
When a study reflects the diversity of the human experience.
What is "generalizability"?
Aims to understand the functions or adaptive purposes of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
What is "functionalism"?
In an experiment, the group of participants that does not receive the manipulation.
What is a "control group"?
Extent to which we can generalize finding to real-world settings.
What is "external validity"?
The error of inferring a moral judgement from a scientific fact.
What is the "naturalistic fallacy"?
"Eating Nutella every day will prevent you from getting cancer!"
What is "extraordinary claims"?
Aims to examine the role of mental processes on behavior.
What is "cognitivism"?
Variable that an experimenter manipulates.
What is an "independent variable"?
Research design that examines the extent to which two variables are associated.
What is "correlational design"?
The error of assuming that a belief must be valid just because it's been around for a long time.
What is the "argument from antiquity fallacy"?
When ruling out rival hypotheses, these are two of the issues that must be considered.
What is "bi-directionality" and "the third variable problem"?
Aims to uncover the role of unconscious psychological processes and early life experiences in behavior.
What is "psychoanalysis"?
Variable that an experimenter measures to see whether the manipulation produces an effect.
What is a "dependent variable"?
Tendency of research participants to distort their responses to questionnaire items.
What is "response set"?