16 Questions
What is the primary purpose of deriving a hypothesis from a theory in science?
To make predictions and test the theory
What is the term for the error of giving more weight to information that supports our beliefs and ignoring information that contradicts them?
Confirmation bias
What is the primary purpose of calculating a p-value in inferential statistics?
To determine the statistical significance of a result
What is the term for the distribution of scores from a sample of data?
Sampling distribution
What is the term for the error of rejecting a true null hypothesis?
Type 1 error
What is the term for the ability of a study to detect a statistically significant effect?
Statistical power
What is the term for the curve that describes the distribution of data in a normal distribution?
Normal curve
What is the term for the error of accepting a false null hypothesis?
Type 2 error
What is a key aspect of professional integrity in the practice of science and psychology?
Applying critical thinking skills with respect and care
What is the primary purpose of having a control condition in a research study?
To rule out alternate explanations
Which of the following is a characteristic of a true experiment?
Random allocation of participants to groups
What is the main concern with the 'argument from authority' logical fallacy?
It ignores the importance of evidence
What is the primary advantage of using operational definitions in research?
They allow for the measurement of abstract concepts
What is the key difference between a case study and anecdotal evidence?
Case studies provide more meaningful data
What is the primary concern with the replication crisis in science?
It is due to a lack of transparency in research
What is the primary purpose of using correlation coefficients in research?
To measure the strength of a correlation between variables
Study Notes
Critical Thinking and Professional Integrity
- Critical thinking skills should be used with care and respect
- Professional integrity is essential in science and psychology
- Distinguish between authorities, theories, and evidence in science
- Transparency and scepticism are crucial in science for continuous improvement
- Recognize and apply logical fallacies: argument from authority and ad hominem
- Understand the replication crisis and its contributing factors
Conceptual Definitions and Errors
- Precision is necessary in scientific constructs and concepts
- Concepts in psychology need to be conceptually defined and established
- Identify and understand logical errors: reification and the pragmatic fallacy
- Appreciate the notion of falsifiability
- Understand operational definitions of variables and their limitations
Research Methods and Design
- Identify flaws in anecdotal evidence and the benefits of case studies
- Understand correlation coefficients and their meaning in research papers
- Appreciate the need for control conditions in ruling out alternate explanations
- Distinguish between true experiments, quasi-experiments, and correlational studies
- Understand the importance of blindness in scientific research
Hypotheses and Biases
- Understand the role of deriving hypotheses from theories and making predictions
- Distinguish between experimental hypotheses, null hypotheses, and alternate hypotheses
- Identify and understand the logical error: confirmation bias
- Calculate and interpret range, mode, median, and mean from a small set of numbers
- Understand the pros and cons of each measure of central tendency
Descriptive Statistics and Distributions
- Understand and interpret frequency distributions
- Appreciate the role of variability in research and inferential statistics
- Identify features of a sampling distribution and how it differs from a distribution of raw scores
- Define and understand the normal curve and its characteristics
- Understand how a sampling distribution is used to calculate p-values and interpret p-values in research
Inferential Statistics and Errors
- Define and distinguish between statistical significance and practical significance
- Understand Type 1 error, Type 2 error, hits, misses, false alarms, and correct rejections
- Appreciate the concept of statistical power and its influencing factors
- Understand the probabilistic nature of scientific conclusions and recognize logical errors: appeal to ignorance, false dichotomy, and denialism
Learn about critical thinking skills, professional integrity, and the importance of transparency and scepticism in science and psychology.
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