29 Questions
What is the main purpose of replicable results in scientific research?
To ensure the research findings are valid and reliable
How do scientists deal with claims of extrasensory perception?
They are skeptical and require empirical evidence
What distinguishes experiments from correlational studies in terms of conclusions?
Experiments offer cause-and-effect conclusions, while correlational studies do not.
Which type of sample selection involves choosing participants based on ease of access?
Convenience samples
What is the primary reason for seeking the most parsimonious explanation of results in scientific research?
To avoid unnecessary complexity in explanations
Why do researchers use descriptive and inferential statistics in evaluating study results?
To draw conclusions and make inferences from data
What does HARKing stand for in the context of research?
Hypothesizing After the Results are Known
Which factor is psychologists becoming more interested in concerning research replicability?
Amount of variation among individuals within each group
What is the main purpose of preapproval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in research involving humans?
To minimize risk to participants
What does P-hacking involve in data analysis?
Analyzing the data repeatedly until a significant result is found
Why do researchers sometimes face difficult ethical decisions in studies involving humans?
To minimize harm while studying sensitive behaviors
What is the main purpose of sampling in psychological research?
To adequately represent the entire population under study
What is a common problem that may be faced by psychological researchers related to sampling?
Overreliance on convenience samples
Which type of population sample involves selecting individuals based on availability?
Convenience Sample
What is a characteristic of a random sample in psychological research?
Equal chance of selection for all individuals in the population
Why is a cross-cultural sample essential for studying many issues in psychological research?
To overcome language barriers and cooperation problems
What is the primary concern with using convenience samples in psychological research?
Overgeneralization to the whole population
What is the sequence of steps that research typically follows?
Hypothesis, Method, Results, Interpretation, Replicability
What does it mean for a theory to be falsifiable?
It means the theory can be clearly tested and potentially proven wrong.
What does meta-analysis involve?
Combining the results of many studies as if they were one huge study.
What is the burden of proof in scientific research?
The obligation to present evidence to support one's claim.
What is the principle of parsimony in choosing among explanations?
Preferring explanations with fewer, simpler assumptions.
What is the difference between basic research and applied research?
Basic research seeks theoretical knowledge, while applied research deals with practical problems.
What is the main difference between a single-blind study and a double-blind study?
In a single-blind study, only the observer is unaware of the treatment allocation, while in a double-blind study, both the observer and participants are unaware.
Why is it better to compare results for different groups rather than using a before-and-after study?
Comparing different groups provides a clearer understanding of treatment effects.
Which statistical measure involves finding the middle score in a list of scores arranged from highest to lowest?
Median
What does a p-value indicate in inferential statistics?
The probability of observing a difference as large as the one observed due to chance alone
When is a result considered statistically significant or reliable based on the p-value?
When p < 0.05
What does inferential statistics aim to do?
Make statements about a large population based on an inference from a small sample
Study Notes
Scientific Methods in Psychology
- Scientific methods in psychology involve carefully gaining, testing, and evaluating knowledge through a sequence of steps: hypothesis, method, results, interpretation, and replicability.
Evaluating Evidence and Thinking Critically
- Replicable results refer to data that can be obtained by following the same procedures, ensuring that anyone can obtain the same results approximately.
- Meta-analysis combines the results of many studies as if they were one huge study.
- A theory is an explanation or model that fits many observations and makes accurate predictions.
- Falsifiable theories are stated in clear, precise terms, allowing us to imagine a result that could contradict the theory.
- The burden of proof lies with the person making a claim to present evidence to support it.
- Parsimony is the principle of preferring the explanation with fewer, simpler, or more consistent assumptions.
Conducting Psychological Research
- Basic research seeks theoretical knowledge, whereas applied research involves practical issues or problems.
- Operational definitions specify the operations or procedures used to produce or measure something, often providing a numerical value.
- Sampling involves selecting a group of participants to represent the entire population.
- Generalization involves applying the results of a study to the entire population.
Population Samples
- Convenience samples are easy to obtain but may not be generalized to the entire population.
- Representative samples have the same percentage of demographic categories as the entire population.
- Random samples involve selecting participants randomly, ensuring equal chances of being chosen.
- Cross-cultural samples involve selecting participants from different cultures, which is essential for studying many issues.
Research Methods
- Single-blind studies involve either the observer or the participants being unaware of which treatment was received.
- Double-blind studies involve both the observer and the participants being unaware of which treatment was received.
Data Analysis
- Descriptive statistics provide a mathematical summary of results, including mean, median, and mode.
- Inferential statistics involve making statements about a large population based on an inference from a small sample.
- Statistical significance is determined by the probability of chance variation, with a p-value less than 0.05 indicating statistical significance.
Replicability Issues
- Psychologists are becoming more interested in replicating results to ensure the reliability of findings.
- HARKing (Hypothesizing After the Results are Known) and p-hacking are common issues that compromise the validity of research.
Ethical Considerations
- Preapproval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is required for human research.
- Informed consent must be obtained from participants, and risk must be minimized.
- Research involving non-humans must also follow ethical guidelines.
Learn about the importance of sampling in psychological research, including the challenges and methods involved. Understand how to ensure that a sample adequately represents the population being studied.
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