Questions and Answers
Which style of writing will you be expected to know and use in this course?
APA Style
Which of the following is NOT considered a feature of a good theory?
Research done specifically to add to our general understanding of psychology is known as ______________.
basic research
When the data from a study do not support the theory behind the study's hypothesis, what does that mean for the theory?
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Psychological scientists base their conclusions on the evidence. They collect data and use it to develop, support, or challenge a theory. This approach is known as ____________.
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Daniel's teacher tells him that his theory about dating is not strong because it is not falsifiable. What does she mean?
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Which of the following could be considered a source of empirical evidence?
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Seligman (1975, 1991) proposed that animals who cannot escape an aversive outcome don't even try to avoid the aversive experience later. This concept would best be described as which of the following?
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Dimitri is interested in understanding the effects of sleep deprivation on short-term memory. What is an empirical approach Dimitri could take to answer this question?
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Latecia's prediction that 'the participants who had to work with the dilapidated supplies will continue to use the less functional supplies' would best be described as which of the following?
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Even when people are aware that people generally think in a biased way, they tend to think that they are unlikely to fall prey to those biases. This kind of bias is called ___________.
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Which of the following is NOT a reason why basing one's conclusions on research is superior to basing one's conclusions on personal experience?
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What does it mean to say that research is probabilistic?
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Study Notes
Research Methods in Psychology
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APA Style: Primary writing format that must be used in psychology courses.
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Good Theory Features: A theory is not necessarily strong if it only makes intuitive sense; other criteria must be met.
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Basic Research: Conducted to enhance overall understanding of psychology rather than apply findings in a practical context.
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Theory Revision: When experimental data contradict a theory’s hypothesis, it indicates that the theory requires modification.
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Empiricism: The scientific approach of gathering data and using it to support or challenge theories.
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Falsifiability: A strong theory must be falsifiable; a theory that cannot be disproven lacks scientific rigor.
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Empirical Evidence: Tools like a thermometer can serve as sources of empirical evidence in research.
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Learned Helplessness: A theory proposed by Seligman suggesting that experience of uncontrollability leads to future passivity in situations where control is possible, demonstrated in workplace settings.
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Experimental Design: To study the impact of sleep deprivation on short-term memory, one could create and conduct a controlled experiment measuring memory functions post-sleep.
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Hypothesis: A specific prediction derived from a theory, such as expectations about participants’ behavior with functional versus dysfunctional supplies in Latecia’s study.
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Bias Blind Spot: The tendency to believe oneself less prone to biases compared to others, highlighting a common cognitive distortion.
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Research vs. Experience: Utilizing research is recognized as more reliable than personal experience because it avoids biases, though it doesn’t provide absolute proof of theories.
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Probabilistic Research: Indicates that research results are based on probabilities rather than certainties, acknowledging variability in human behavior and responses.
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Description
These flashcards cover essential concepts in Research Methods for Psychology. You will learn about key terms such as APA Style and the characteristics of a good theory. Test your knowledge and improve your understanding of foundational research principles.
