Science and Critical Thinking Lecture 1

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of deriving a hypothesis from a theory in science?

To disprove the null hypothesis

To confirm the theory

To make predictions and test the theory (correct)

To calculate the mean and standard deviation

What is the term for the error of giving more weight to information that supports our beliefs and ignoring information that contradicts them?

Appeal to ignorance

Confirmation bias (correct)

False Dichotomy

Denialism

What is the primary purpose of calculating a p-value in inferential statistics?

To determine the practical significance of a result

To determine the mean and standard deviation

To determine the mode and median

To determine the statistical significance of a result (correct)

What is the term for the distribution of scores from a sample of data?

Sampling distribution Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the error of rejecting a true null hypothesis?

Type 1 error Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the ability of a study to detect a statistically significant effect?

Statistical power Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the curve that describes the distribution of data in a normal distribution?

Normal curve Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the error of accepting a false null hypothesis?

Type 2 error Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of professional integrity in the practice of science and psychology?

Applying critical thinking skills with respect and care Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of having a control condition in a research study?

To rule out alternate explanations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of a true experiment?

Random allocation of participants to groups Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concern with the 'argument from authority' logical fallacy?

It ignores the importance of evidence Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using operational definitions in research?

They allow for the measurement of abstract concepts Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between a case study and anecdotal evidence?

Case studies provide more meaningful data Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern with the replication crisis in science?

It is due to a lack of transparency in research Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of using correlation coefficients in research?

To measure the strength of a correlation between variables Signup and view all the answers

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