Scientific Method
Explain 5 ways by which information about the world may be obtained
Which one does the scientific method rely on
Which one is least most reliable
Method of Tenacity
Method of Authority
Reason
Personal Experience (least most reliable)
Empiricism (scientific method relies on this one)
Why can't a theory be considered "proven" when it is supported by experimental data
Because confirmation from data does not "prove" the theory because it's possible that other theories could predict the same outcome. Only disconfirmation or falsifiability is the most useful
What is the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r)
What would a scatter plot look like for:
r = 1, r = -1, r = 0
What kind of relationship do each of these values denote
Defined as what measures direction & strength of linear relation between 2 variables
r = 1 (positive) dots going up in a straight line
r = -1 (negative) dots going down in a straight line
r = 0 (no correlation) dots scattered and not in a line
Define independent, dependent and control variables
A variable that is manipulated
A variable that is measured as a result of the independent variable
A variable held constant by the experimenter
Who is responsible for overseeing that research at universities using animal subjects is conducted ethically
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
Inductive: Data --> theory
Deductive: Theory --> Data
What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory
Hypothesis --> a tentative statement about how variables are related
Theory --> a formal statement that explains how and why variables or events are related
Why doesn't a strong correlation imply causation
Why doesn't a '0' correlation necessarily imply a lack of relationship between two measures
A strong correlation doesn't imply causation because of bi-directionality and third variable problems
A 0 correlation doesn't necessarily imply a lack of relationship between two measures because it just mean's it's not linear or consistent
Critique the following statement: When there are no significant differences between the experimental and control groups, we can safely conclude that the independent variable does not have an effect
This is a correct statement because this means that the independent variable was probably not adequately manipulated
Problem with dependent variable (floor/ceiling effects)
Insufficient control of extraneous (control) variables
Who is responsible for overseeing that research at universities involving human subjects is conducted ethically
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
What are the basic characteristics of the scientific method that distinguish it from other ways of knowing
Empirical
Analytical
What are the major functions of a theory
Organize data
Generate predictions
What are the major threats to validity in surveys & how can they be minimized
Can be minimized: by asking the same question at the beginning/end of the survey, use forced choice between desirable/undesirable choices, and look at the response rate
What is an interaction
When effects produced by one independent variable are NOT the same across levels of a second independent variable
Explain two advantages of using animals as research subjects.
The major criteria for defining a research problem as "ethical" are
Understanding behavioral psychology, Neuroscience
Minimal risk, informed consent, proper deception, debriefing
Explain three basic procedures used in scientific inquiry.
Description
Prediction
Explanation
Explain the concept of "strong inference" in comparing different theories
A strong inference is defined as pitting one theory against another
i.e. Theory A predicts outcome 1, Theory B predics outcome 2
Results: Outcome 1; reject Theory B
What are the major threats to validity in case studies & how can they be minimized
Threats: an in-depth analysis of individual, social unit, or event; forgetting, repression, observer bias
Can be minimized: getting collaborative evidence (such as information from family or friends)
How do retrospective studies differ from true experiments
you are not administering the independent variable, instead you are choosing a pool of people who have already partaken in the independent variable
What is the rationale for the claim that animals have rights and should not be used as subjects in research projects
What is the counter-argument put forth by Cohen (1986) regarding animal rights
Rationale: animals are like humans so we should treat animals the same way we treat humans and accept that they have rights; species-ism is like racism
Counterargument: rights imply that there is a "moral sense", and animals do not have enough cognitive abilities to understand the concept of morality, therefore, we cannot give them rights
Which one(s) of the three basic procedures permit(s) causal inferences to be made
Explanation
Explain nthree criteria for evaluating theories
Parsimony
Precision
Testability
What are the major threats to validity in naturalistic observations & how can they be minimized
Can be minimized by: unobtrusive observations, unobtrusive measures, Habituate subjects to the presence of the observer, Use deception as to what is really being measured
Explain the multiple meanings of "control" as it applies to experiments
A control condition, for purpose of comparison
treatment produced/manipulated by the experimenter
Certain aspects of the experimental setting are held constant
Who sets the standards governing the proper use and care of animal subjects
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)