51 Questions
What is the premise of empiricism?
Knowledge should be acquired through observation
What is the main goal of research psychologists?
To find ways to measure and describe behavior
According to empiricism, scientific psychology conclusions should be based on:
Careful, systemic observation
What does positivism propose about reality?
Reality is independent of observer, and can be 'captured' by science
What does empirical constructivism propose about realities?
'Realities' are constructed in social ways
According to the philosophy of mind, what does dualism propose about mental phenomena?
'Mental phenomena' are in some respect 'non-physical'
What did Rene Descartes propose about the mind?
The mind (i.e. consciousness/self-awareness) is distinct from the brain (i.e. physical organ)
What is an important part of the scientific method according to empiricism?
Theories and hypotheses must be observed and tested to be considered accurate
What does positivism suggest about scientific methods?
Scientific methods will reveal the 'Truth' about reality
What does empiricism emphasize in the acceptance of scientific theories?
Empirical adequacy rather than truth
What is the purpose of the scientific method in psychology?
To conduct standardized research and make observations
What is a good theory in psychology required to do?
Organize many observations in a logical way and allow researchers to come up with clear predictions
What does an operational definition do in psychological research?
It defines how a construct will be measured or observed
What is an independent variable (IV) in psychological research?
An observable stimulus that causes changes in cognition, affect, or behavior
What does a positive correlation indicate between two variables?
High scores on variable x are related to high scores on variable y, and low scores on variable x are related to low scores on variable y
What is the primary disadvantage of using correlations in psychological research?
Correlations only tell us that two variables are related, not how the two variables are related
"Correlation does not imply causation" means:
The phrase is incomplete and does not make sense in the context of psychological research
What are the two central features of experiments?
Control over procedure and random assignment to the levels of the IV
In a between-participants design, how are the different levels of the independent variable (IV) administered?
Different levels for different groups of participants
What is the key characteristic of a within-participants design in experimental research?
Participants experience different levels of the IV at different times
What is a mixed experimental research design?
$1$ IV between-participants variation and $1$ IV within-participants variation
In a quasi-experimental research design, what distinguishes between-groups variable from within-groups variable?
$1$ is related to differences between groups, while the other is related to differences within each group
What does internal validity in experimental research refer to?
The validity of the assumption that IV causes DV and eliminates alternative explanations for a finding.
What does external validity in experimental research refer to?
The generalizability of causal relationships between IV and DV.
What is single-blind in an experimental study?
The participant is unaware of their assigned condition.
What is double-blind in an experimental study?
The participant and researcher are both unaware of participants' conditions.
Which of the following best represents the purpose of research psychologists?
To find ways to measure and describe behavior
What is the premise of empiricism in scientific psychology?
Knowledge should be acquired through observation
According to positivism, what does empirical constructivism propose about realities?
Realities are constructed in social ways
What does dualism propose about mental phenomena according to the philosophy of mind?
Mental phenomena are in some respect 'non-physical'
'Correlation does not imply causation' means:
'Correlation does not necessarily indicate causation'
'What is an independent variable (IV) in psychological research?'
'A variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher'
What does internal validity in experimental research refer to?
The extent to which changes in the dependent variable can be attributed to the manipulation of the independent variable
What are the two central features of experiments?
Random assignment and manipulation of variables
What does external validity in experimental research refer to?
The generalizability of research findings to real-world settings
What is an important part of scientific method according to empiricism?
Theories and hypotheses must be observed and tested for accuracy
What is the primary advantage of using correlations in psychological research?
Correlations allow investigation of a broader array of psychological phenomena than is possible in experimental research.
What does a positive correlation indicate between two variables?
High scores on variable x are related to high scores on variable y, and low scores on variable x are related to low scores on variable y.
What is an independent variable (IV) in psychological research?
Observable stimulus that causes something and is manipulated by the researcher.
What is the key characteristic of a within-participants design in experimental research?
The same participants are exposed to each level of the independent variable at different times.
What does internal validity in experimental research refer to?
The degree to which changes in the dependent variable are due to the manipulation of the independent variable.
What is double-blind in an experimental study?
Both the participants and the experimenter are unaware of which condition they are in or what they are testing.
Which of the following is NOT a threat to internal validity in experimental research?
External validity
In a within-participants design in experimental research, what does it mean when participants are assigned to both groups?
Each participant experiences all levels of the independent variable (IV)
Why is double-blind important in an experimental study?
To eliminate researcher bias and expectancy effects
What distinguishes a quasi-experimental research design from an experimental research design?
The inability to establish causality
What is the primary difference between between-participants design and within-participants design?
The type of independent variable (IV) manipulation
What's the main difference between single-blind and double-blind studies?
In a single-blind study, only the participant is unaware of their condition, while in a double-blind study, both the participant and experimenter are unaware.
What does external validity in experimental research refer to?
The ability to generalize causal relationships between IV and DV to other situations or contexts.
Which characteristic distinguishes mixed experimental research designs from other designs?
The inclusion of both between-participants and within-participants variations.
What does it mean when researchers have control over procedure in an experiment?
They can control the manipulation of the independent variable (IV).
Study Notes
Empiricism and Scientific Psychology
- The premise of empiricism is that scientific psychology conclusions should be based on empirical evidence and observations.
- The main goal of research psychologists is to understand and explain mental phenomena.
Philosophy of Mind
- Dualism proposes that mental phenomena are non-physical and cannot be reduced to physical processes.
- René Descartes proposed that the mind is a non-physical substance that interacts with the body.
Scientific Method
- An important part of the scientific method according to empiricism is the use of empirical evidence to test hypotheses.
- Positivism suggests that scientific methods should be based on objective observation and measurement.
- Empiricism emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence in the acceptance of scientific theories.
Purpose of Scientific Method
- The purpose of the scientific method in psychology is to develop and test theories that explain mental phenomena.
Theories in Psychology
- A good theory in psychology is required to make testable predictions and be falsifiable.
Research Design
- Operational definitions define the variables being measured in a study.
- An independent variable (IV) is a variable that is intentionally manipulated by the researcher.
- A positive correlation indicates that two variables are related, but does not imply causation.
- Correlation does not imply causation, meaning that a correlation between two variables does not necessarily mean that one causes the other.
Experimental Design
- The two central features of experiments are manipulation of an independent variable and measurement of a dependent variable.
- In a between-participants design, different levels of the independent variable are administered to different groups of participants.
- In a within-participants design, each participant is exposed to all levels of the independent variable.
- A mixed experimental research design combines between-participants and within-participants designs.
- In a quasi-experimental research design, the independent variable is not manipulated by the researcher.
Validity
- Internal validity in experimental research refers to the extent to which a study establishes a cause-and-effect relationship between variables.
- External validity in experimental research refers to the extent to which a study's findings can be generalized to other populations and contexts.
Blinding
- Single-blind in an experimental study means that participants are unaware of the experimental conditions.
- Double-blind in an experimental study means that both participants and researchers are unaware of the experimental conditions.
Key Concepts
- The primary advantage of using correlations in psychological research is that they can identify relationships between variables.
- The primary disadvantage of using correlations in psychological research is that they do not imply causation.
- The key characteristic of a within-participants design is that each participant is exposed to all levels of the independent variable.
- In a quasi-experimental research design, the independent variable is not manipulated by the researcher.
- The primary difference between between-participants design and within-participants design is the administration of the independent variable.
- The main difference between single-blind and double-blind studies is the level of awareness of the experimental conditions.
- The primary advantage of using experiments is that they can establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables.
Test your knowledge about the main goals of research psychologists and the concept of empiricism in psychology. Explore the purpose of research in measuring and describing behavior, understanding the occurrence of events, and applying knowledge to real-world issues.
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