Psychology Research Methods Quiz

Course Details

• Midterm: November 21st, 29.5%
• 4 MCQs: 8%
• Final: 60%
• Research Participation: 2.5%
• Core Textbook: Andy Field's "Discovering Stats using IBM SPSS Statistics"
• Other Textbooks: Howitt and Cramer's "Intro to Research Methods in Psychology," Miles and Banyard's "Understanding and Using Stats in Psychology"
• All Textbooks Available in Library
• PADLET for General Queries

Methodology and Scientific Method

• Methodology: the study of methods
• Scientific Method: aims to mitigate biases, limitations, and personal interests in research.
• Challenges in Psychological Research:
  • Unobservable Objects: Investigating thoughts and feelings
  • Subjectivity: Biases in research subjects
  • Social Construction: Societal influence on research subjects
  • Ethical Considerations: Potential negative consequences on society and individuals

Research Types

• Focused on Weeks 4 and 5:
• Stats used: to prove an effect or lack thereof
• Data analysis: essential in proving effects and/or the lack thereof
• Basic Research:
  • Aims to increase the stock of knowledge
• Applied Research:
  • Seeks knowledge usage to develop new applications

Knowledge and Science

• Belief (subjectively true): Requires empirical evidence to become objective knowledge
• Knowledge (objectively true): Confirmed through research methods

Scientific Research Principles

• Verification: Scientific research is subject to verification by others
• Procedure: Scientific procedures are necessary for verification of research
• Sharing: Essential for validation via communication and collaboration
• Hypotheses: Unproven assumptions that act as preliminary statements
• Conclusions: Proven statements

Logical and Empirical Proof

• Logical Proof: Makes sense through philosophical rationalism and mathematical analysis to form theories
• Empirical Proof: Supported by evidence (data) from philosophical empiricism

Logical Inference Types

• Deduction: Deriving a proposition based on general statements (guaranteed true result)
• Induction: Deriving a general statement based on various instances (may be true)
• Abduction: Determining the most likely explanation from instances (may be true, but can be misleading)

Causal Influences

• Necessary Cause: The cause is needed to produce the effect
• Sufficient Cause: The cause in itself readily produces the effect
• Contributory Cause: Contributing to the effect by increasing its probability

Scope and Fruitfulness

• Scope: Examining the general validity of propositions
• Fruitfulness: How findings address other questions (practical implications beyond initial research)
• Novelty: Surprising, informative findings that are ground-breaking( open up further research possibilities)
• Parsimony: Simpler the theory the better, fewer assumptions are required
• Occam's Razor: Eliminate unnecessary assumptions

Conservatism

• Conservatism: Integrates with existing knowledge to make an assumption plausible, rather than contradict it
• Integration: Minimizes contradictory assumptions and maximizes compatible assumptions
• Empirical Testing: Process to test assumptions and evaluate their implications

Test your knowledge on research methods in psychology, focusing on concepts like the scientific method, unobservable objects, and ethical considerations. This quiz will cover material from weeks 4 and 5 of your course, using Andy Field's 'Discovering Stats using IBM SPSS Statistics' as a core reference. Prepare to evaluate the challenges and methodologies integral to psychological research.