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Questions and Answers
What is the main purpose of replicable results in scientific research?
What is the main purpose of replicable results in scientific research?
- To make the research findings more interesting
- To confuse other researchers
- To ensure the research findings are valid and reliable (correct)
- To increase the complexity of the research design
How do scientists deal with claims of extrasensory perception?
How do scientists deal with claims of extrasensory perception?
- They base their research on such claims
- They readily accept them without questioning
- They ignore such claims completely
- They are skeptical and require empirical evidence (correct)
What distinguishes experiments from correlational studies in terms of conclusions?
What distinguishes experiments from correlational studies in terms of conclusions?
- Experiments use non-random samples, while correlational studies use random samples.
- Experiments focus on describing relationships, while correlational studies establish cause and effect.
- Experiments offer cause-and-effect conclusions, while correlational studies do not. (correct)
- Experiments only work with qualitative data, while correlational studies work with quantitative data.
Which type of sample selection involves choosing participants based on ease of access?
Which type of sample selection involves choosing participants based on ease of access?
What is the primary reason for seeking the most parsimonious explanation of results in scientific research?
What is the primary reason for seeking the most parsimonious explanation of results in scientific research?
Why do researchers use descriptive and inferential statistics in evaluating study results?
Why do researchers use descriptive and inferential statistics in evaluating study results?
What does HARKing stand for in the context of research?
What does HARKing stand for in the context of research?
Which factor is psychologists becoming more interested in concerning research replicability?
Which factor is psychologists becoming more interested in concerning research replicability?
What is the main purpose of preapproval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in research involving humans?
What is the main purpose of preapproval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in research involving humans?
What does P-hacking involve in data analysis?
What does P-hacking involve in data analysis?
Why do researchers sometimes face difficult ethical decisions in studies involving humans?
Why do researchers sometimes face difficult ethical decisions in studies involving humans?
What is the main purpose of sampling in psychological research?
What is the main purpose of sampling in psychological research?
What is a common problem that may be faced by psychological researchers related to sampling?
What is a common problem that may be faced by psychological researchers related to sampling?
Which type of population sample involves selecting individuals based on availability?
Which type of population sample involves selecting individuals based on availability?
What is a characteristic of a random sample in psychological research?
What is a characteristic of a random sample in psychological research?
Why is a cross-cultural sample essential for studying many issues in psychological research?
Why is a cross-cultural sample essential for studying many issues in psychological research?
What is the primary concern with using convenience samples in psychological research?
What is the primary concern with using convenience samples in psychological research?
What is the sequence of steps that research typically follows?
What is the sequence of steps that research typically follows?
What does it mean for a theory to be falsifiable?
What does it mean for a theory to be falsifiable?
What does meta-analysis involve?
What does meta-analysis involve?
What is the burden of proof in scientific research?
What is the burden of proof in scientific research?
What is the principle of parsimony in choosing among explanations?
What is the principle of parsimony in choosing among explanations?
What is the difference between basic research and applied research?
What is the difference between basic research and applied research?
What is the main difference between a single-blind study and a double-blind study?
What is the main difference between a single-blind study and a double-blind study?
Why is it better to compare results for different groups rather than using a before-and-after study?
Why is it better to compare results for different groups rather than using a before-and-after study?
Which statistical measure involves finding the middle score in a list of scores arranged from highest to lowest?
Which statistical measure involves finding the middle score in a list of scores arranged from highest to lowest?
What does a p-value indicate in inferential statistics?
What does a p-value indicate in inferential statistics?
When is a result considered statistically significant or reliable based on the p-value?
When is a result considered statistically significant or reliable based on the p-value?
What does inferential statistics aim to do?
What does inferential statistics aim to do?
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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.
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