Scientific Understanding of Behavior

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Questions and Answers

Why is understanding research methods considered essential for various professions?

It is crucial for designing and conducting original research studies.
It primarily enhances one's ability to perform complex statistical analyses.
It enables professionals to critically evaluate and apply research findings in their respective fields. (correct)
It mainly facilitates the publication of research articles in peer-reviewed journals.

In what way has scientific research played a role in shaping public policy and judicial decisions?

By influencing the U.S. Supreme Court decisions through fields like behavioral research and neuroscience. (correct)
By providing statistical data used to establish legal precedents.
By funding research projects focused on policy-making strategies.
By offering theoretical frameworks which legal scholars use to interpret laws.

How can research methods be instrumental in developing and assessing programs designed to achieve specific objectives?

By establishing marketing and outreach strategies to enhance program visibility.
By ensuring the programs adhere to ethical guidelines and regulatory standards.
By providing frameworks to secure funding and resources for program implementation.
By offering tools to measure outcomes, evaluate effectiveness, and refine program strategies. (correct)

What's the primary problem with relying on intuition and anecdotal evidence to understand the world?

They can be influenced by cognitive and motivational biases, leading to incorrect conclusions. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of illusory correlation?

The focus on two events that stand out and occur together, leading to an incorrect correlation. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which approach is least aligned with the scientific method?

Relying on personal intuition and anecdotal evidence. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the 'temporal order' element in inferring causation?

To ensure that the cause happens before the effect. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which research type aims to address practical problems and suggest potential solutions?

Applied research (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the ultimate goal of science?

To understand why a behavior occurs. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to explanations in science as new research is conducted?

They often need to be discarded or revised. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A study investigating the impact of screen time on adolescent sleep patterns exemplifies which type of research?

Applied research (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of research is primarily concerned with addressing fundamental questions about the nature of behavior?

Basic research (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of program evaluation?

To assess social reforms and innovations. (A) Signup and view all the answers

In what way do basic and applied research commonly interact?

Applied research is often guided by basic research, and findings in applied settings often spur more basic research. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key similarity between basic research, applied research, and program evaluation?

They all use scientific methods. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A researcher aims to understand whether regular exercise leads to improved mood. According to Cook and Campbell's criteria for identifying the cause of a behavior, which element would involve ensuring that changes in exercise habits precede any observed changes in mood?

Temporal precedence (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why is basic research considered necessary for the benefit of society?

It is necessary to advance science and can ultimately prove very useful. (D) Signup and view all the answers

A research study claims a new dietary supplement significantly boosts memory based on testimonials from users and endorsements from a celebrity with no scientific background. Which aspect of pseudoscience does this exemplify?

Evidence based on anecdotes and testimonials rather than scientific data. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A study finds that students who spend more time studying tend to achieve higher grades. If this relationship allows us to anticipate a student's grades based on their study time, which goal of behavioral science does this BEST exemplify?

Prediction (D) Signup and view all the answers

What BEST describes covariation of cause and effect?

The effect is present only when the cause is present. (D) Signup and view all the answers

A website publishes an article stating that a particular smartphone app can detect and cure various diseases, but fails to provide methodological details and any conflicting evidence. Which skeptical approach would be most appropriate in evaluating this?

Independently verify the 'scientific' evidence. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A researcher is investigating the relationship between social media use and self-esteem. They find a correlation, but to infer causation, they must rule out other factors like pre-existing mental health conditions. Which of Cook and Campbell's conditions for causality is the researcher addressing?

Elimination of alternative explanations (D) Signup and view all the answers

When evaluating a research report, which question helps you determine the confidence you can place in the study's findings?

To whom can we generalize the results? (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which research question below aligns MOST closely with the goal of description in behavioral science?

Are women more likely to seek medical attention when feeling ill, compared to men? (A) Signup and view all the answers

A study concludes that a new teaching method improves student test scores. However, the researchers only presented results from students who performed well, while ignoring those who didn't improve. This violates which principle of scientific skepticism?

Claims based only on confirmatory evidence, ignoring conflicting evidence. (C) Signup and view all the answers

In assessing research, why is it important to understand 'what the researchers did' and 'what was the method'?

To evaluate the validity and reliability of the findings. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A team of researchers discovers a correlation between ice cream sales and crime rates. Both increase during summer. To establish causation, what must researchers demonstrate FIRST, according to Cook and Campbell?

That the rise in ice cream sales always precedes the increase in crime. (E) Signup and view all the answers

A school district implements a new reading program and observes students' reading scores improve. To confidently claim the program caused the improvement, the district should MOST importantly ensure:

Improvements occurred only after the program started and not because of other factors. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What should you primarily do if you come across a scientific assertion online that is supported by vague evidence?

Conduct an Internet search for supportive evidence. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Researchers find that increased screen time during adolescence is associated with lower academic performance. However, they note that this prediction is NOT always accurate for every individual. Which aspect of prediction in behavioral science does this BEST illustrate?

Probabilistic relationships (D) Signup and view all the answers

If a research study's primary goal is 'determining cause,' what is it trying to achieve?

Establish a relationship where one variable directly influences another. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to consider if similar results have been found by other researchers when evaluating a study?

Independent replication increases confidence in the original findings. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why does the scientific approach reject accepting information solely from authority figures?

Scientific skepticism requires ideas to be evaluated through logic and empirical evidence, not just the prestige of the source. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of scientific inquiry, what role do intuition, anecdotes, and authority play?

They can serve as potential sources of ideas about behavior, but those ideas must be tested empirically. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a central tenet of the 'evolved theory of science' as described by Goodstein (2000)?

Data plays a crucial role. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does falsifiability mean in the context of scientific inquiry?

A good scientific theory should be capable of being shown to be false through scientific methods. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why is peer review important in scientific research?

It judges the merit of research through evaluation by experts, improving the quality and credibility of published work. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does the scientific approach differ from other ways of gaining knowledge?

It provides an objective set of rules for gathering, evaluating, and reporting observations. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which action best exemplifies scientific skepticism when encountering an opinion?

Considering whether the opinion can be tested scientifically or whether scientific evidence relates to the opinion. (D) Signup and view all the answers

A researcher observes a new phenomenon and develops a theory. What step must they take to align with the scientific approach?

Design experiments to test the theory, collect data, and subject the findings to peer review. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Research Methods

Systematic approaches used to gather and analyze data.

Scientific Approach

A method of learning that relies on empirical evidence and systematic observation.