Psychology as a Science: The Scientific Method
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Questions and Answers

What is the first step in the scientific method?

  • Identify the problem (correct)
  • Develop a hypothesis
  • Conduct experiments
  • Analyze data and formulate conclusions

    • Why must a hypothesis be falsifiable?

  • To ensure accuracy in predictions
  • To allow for collection of sufficient data
  • To test and potentially disprove it (correct)
  • To validate the theories

    • What defines naturalistic observation?

  • Research conducted exclusively in a lab setting
  • Researchers influence the subjects to gather data
  • Use of artificial settings to manipulate variables
  • Observation of behavior in the real world without interference (correct)

    • What is a significant disadvantage of naturalistic observation?

    <p>Lack of control over external factors influencing behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a key advantage of using naturalistic observation?

    <p>It allows discovery of phenomena not found in labs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During the experimentation phase of the scientific method, what should researchers primarily focus on?

    <p>Testing the hypothesis and collecting quantitative data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect called when individuals modify their behavior because they know they are being observed?

    <p>Reactivity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is replication important in scientific research?

    <p>To ensure results are valid across different environments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major drawback related to the truthfulness of survey responses?

    <p>Survey questions can lead to response bias.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can researchers ensure that their survey sample is representative of the population?

    <p>By ensuring that every person has an equal chance to be selected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What might influence researchers to hear or see what they expect in their results?

    <p>Personal theories, beliefs, and expectations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of sampling includes breaking a population into subgroups before sampling?

    <p>Stratified random sample.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one advantage of conducting surveys?

    <p>They can include participants who are typically hard to reach.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential issue when researchers are present during a survey?

    <p>The presence itself may influence participant behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a limitation of survey data?

    <p>Participants may respond based on expected answers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement is true regarding random sampling?

    <p>It ensures that every individual has an equal chance of being included.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does acquiescent response bias refer to?

    <p>The tendency to respond 'yes' to all questions regardless of true opinion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which bias involves responding in a way deemed acceptable by others?

    <p>Socially desirable bias.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary goal of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?

    <p>To document the progression of syphilis over time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What principle emphasizes minimizing harm to participants in research?

    <p>Beneficence and non-maleficence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a role of the Institutional Review Board?

    <p>To conduct the research themselves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is required for participants as part of informed consent?

    <p>Participants must understand the details of the study and their right to withdraw.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does illusory superiority refer to?

    <p>Describing one’s own behavior as better than average.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a key consideration for ethical research practices?

    <p>Ensuring that the research study is consistent with general ethical principles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of correlational research?

    <p>To identify relationships between two or more variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a correlation coefficient of r = -0.8 indicate?

    <p>A strong negative correlation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which variable is manipulated in an experimental research study?

    <p>Independent variable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the dependent variable in an experiment?

    <p>To measure the effect of changes made to the independent variable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a field experiment, what unique aspect sets it apart from lab-based experiments?

    <p>It takes place in real-world settings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of graph visually represents the relationship between two variables in correlational research?

    <p>Scatterplot</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential limitation of correlational research?

    <p>It cannot determine causation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term refers to variables that can influence the outcome of a study but are not the primary focus?

    <p>Extraneous variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Psychology as a Science: The Scientific Method

    • The scientific method involves identifying a problem, gathering information, developing a hypothesis, designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data, formulating conclusions, and replicating the process.
    • Identifying the problem involves defining the area of interest.
    • Gathering information necessitates reviewing existing literature and theories of behavior related to the problem.
    • Developing a hypothesis means creating a tentative statement about the relationship between variables, which must be falsifiable (testable).
    • Designing and conducting experiments involves developing a method to test the hypothesis and collecting data.
    • Analyzing data and formulating conclusions involves examining the results to determine if they support or refute the hypothesis.
    • Replication involves repeating the experiment with different subjects to increase confidence in the results.
    • Science evolves continuously and self-corrects.

    Naturalistic Observation

    • This research method involves observing behavior in the natural environment.
    • The researcher does not interfere in any way.
    • Operational definition describes how the variable is measured.
    • Reactivity (Hawthorne effect) occurs when participants' behavior changes due to the awareness of being observed.
    • Advantages include being a real-world study, providing insights that cannot be gathered in a lab, and the possibility of discovering new phenomena.

    Disadvantages of Naturalistic Observation

    • Researchers lack control over the environment and the many factors that influence behavior.
    • Researchers can be biased by their theories, beliefs, and expectations.
    • The presence of a researcher can influence the behaviors observed.
    • This bias can be lessened by researchers blending in.

    Surveys

    • A survey is a method of gathering information from a large sample of people.
    • It is not possible to survey every single person within a population.
    • Data is collected through a sample.
    • A representative sample is essential to generalize results to the entire population.
    • Random sampling ensures every member of a population has an equal probability of being chosen.
    • Simple random sampling involves selecting individuals from a population without consideration of group membership.
    • Stratified random sampling involves selecting individuals from specific subgroups within a population.
    • Advantages involve being cheap, easy to administer, and able to include people who are typically not included in research (e.g., illiterate individuals, people in remote locations).
    • Disadvantages include the possibility of not obtaining truthful answers: words of a question can affect results; characteristics of the person asking the question can affect results; response bias, the tendency to answer in a particular way; acquiescent response bias, the tendency to agree with questions; socially desirable bias, the tendency to respond in a way seen as acceptable; and illusory superiority, the tendency to think our behavior is better than average.

    The Tuskegee Syphilis Study

    • This unethical study involved observing the natural progression of syphilis in African American men without treatment.
    • This resulted in the preventable deaths of many participants and spread of the disease.

    Ethical Principles in Research

    • Researchers must strive to do good (beneficence) and avoid creating experiments that can harm (maleficence) participants.
    • Psychologists must carefully weigh the potential benefits of the research against the costs to participants, and take measures to protect their mental and physical well-being.
    • Psychologists should engage in accurate, honest, and unbiased practices in all aspects of their work.
    • The Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews research proposals to ensure ethical practices.
    • The IRB assesses research designs, informed consent procedures, risks, and benefits.

    Correlational Research

    • Correlational research attempts to determine if a relationship exists between two or more variables.
    • Correlation measures the direction and strength of a relationship between two variables.
    • Scatterplot graphs visual representation of correlation between two variables.
    • Positive correlation: points tend to cluster in a direct line.
    • Negative correlation: points cluster in an inverse direction.
    • Strong correlation: data points cluster tightly together, close to the line.

    Strength of Correlation

    • Correlation coefficients range from -1 to +1.
    • The numerical value represents the strength of the relationship between variables.
    • The absolute value represents the magnitude of the correlation strength.
    • The sign (+ or -) indicates the direction of the correlation.

    Experimental Variables

    • Experimental research allows observation, description, prediction, and explanation of cause-and-effect relationships.
    • Independent variable is manipulated.
    • Dependent variable is the variable affected by the independent variable.
    • Extraneous variables are uncontrolled factors that may influence the outcome.
    • Researchers manipulate and control variables.
    • Research is conducted in the lab and/or in real-world setting (field experiments).

    Experimental and Control Groups

    • Experimental group receives the treatment.
    • Control group does not receive the treatment to serve as a comparison.
    • Placebo effect is a phenomenon where participants' response is affected by their belief about the treatment, rather than the treatment itself.

    Describing Data: Central Tendency

    • Descriptive statistics summarize data.
    • Mean: average score.
    • Median: middle score.
    • Mode: most frequent score.

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    Description

    Explore the essential steps of the scientific method in psychology, including problem identification, hypothesis development, and data analysis. This quiz will test your understanding of how scientific inquiry informs psychological research and its self-correcting nature.

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