PSYCH 242 EXAM 1 STUDY SET
What is science good for? - Answers - Explain Things: Determine causality
Observe naturally existing relationships
Deal with Illusory Correlations
What is science based on? - Answers - Science is based on Empiricism:
Observations and data
Hypotheses and predictions
What is Philosophy based on? - Answers - Philosophy is based on logic and reason.
NOT data driven (this does not mean it's bad, it's just not science)
Occam's Razor - Answers - All else being equal, the simplest explanation should be
favored
Falsifiability - Answers - To apply science, one must have a question/problem that is
testable (i.e., data-collectable)
Incorrect predictions lead to scientific progress
Science is Subjective: Thomas Kuhn* - Answers - Paradigms blind scientists to other
possibilities
Researchers identify with their paradigms
Variable - Answers - Takes on different values.
Provides information.
2 Main types of variables - Answers - categorical and quantitative
Quantitative* - Answers - Variable takes on numeric values.
Operational Definitions - Answers - How you will measure a variable (i.e., the scale).
Ordinal - Answers - data in some meaningful order.
Magnitude - Answers - one item is more (or higher) than another
Interval - Answers - Data with magnitude and equal intervals.
Distributions: Categorical - Answers - Bar graph and Pie graph
, Distribution: Quantitative - Answers - Histogram
what is importance of the shape of histrograms? - Answers - The shape of our
histogram determines the statistics we can use.
What can we say instead of prove? - Answers - Consistent
Supports
Suggests
e.g. - Answers - for example
i.e. - Answers - that is
Hypotheses - Answers - A statement.
A tentative belief.
Often about the relationship between two or more things:
A Good Hypothesis - Answers - 1. Specific: no ambiguity
2. A statement that is testable (i.e., falsifiable)
3. Take a stance (one way or the other)
4. Motivated by some evidence (e.g., past research)*
5. Constructed before you begin research (i.e., a priori)
Theories - Answers - Explain a bunch of phenomena, Theories change with the data.
The more phenomena a theory accurately predicts, the more likely it is to be veridical.
what should a good hyppothesis do? - Answers - A good hypothesis should help confirm
or disconfirm a theory
Peer Review* - Answers - Papers/Manuscripts published in a Journal are reviewed by a
panel of experts ("peers") in the field.
Data available for scrutiny (up to 5 years after publication)
Types of Articles - Answers - Empirical Study: Report of original research
Literature Review: Review of entire field
Meta-analysis (new statistical analysis)
Theoretical Article: Advancing theory
Methodological Article: New research method / tool
Case Study: Person, group, community, organization
Goals of Scientific Writing - Answers - 1. Clarity
Continuity of writing style
Transition words to connect ideas
What is science good for? - Answers - Explain Things: Determine causality
Observe naturally existing relationships
Deal with Illusory Correlations
What is science based on? - Answers - Science is based on Empiricism:
Observations and data
Hypotheses and predictions
What is Philosophy based on? - Answers - Philosophy is based on logic and reason.
NOT data driven (this does not mean it's bad, it's just not science)
Occam's Razor - Answers - All else being equal, the simplest explanation should be
favored
Falsifiability - Answers - To apply science, one must have a question/problem that is
testable (i.e., data-collectable)
Incorrect predictions lead to scientific progress
Science is Subjective: Thomas Kuhn* - Answers - Paradigms blind scientists to other
possibilities
Researchers identify with their paradigms
Variable - Answers - Takes on different values.
Provides information.
2 Main types of variables - Answers - categorical and quantitative
Quantitative* - Answers - Variable takes on numeric values.
Operational Definitions - Answers - How you will measure a variable (i.e., the scale).
Ordinal - Answers - data in some meaningful order.
Magnitude - Answers - one item is more (or higher) than another
Interval - Answers - Data with magnitude and equal intervals.
Distributions: Categorical - Answers - Bar graph and Pie graph
, Distribution: Quantitative - Answers - Histogram
what is importance of the shape of histrograms? - Answers - The shape of our
histogram determines the statistics we can use.
What can we say instead of prove? - Answers - Consistent
Supports
Suggests
e.g. - Answers - for example
i.e. - Answers - that is
Hypotheses - Answers - A statement.
A tentative belief.
Often about the relationship between two or more things:
A Good Hypothesis - Answers - 1. Specific: no ambiguity
2. A statement that is testable (i.e., falsifiable)
3. Take a stance (one way or the other)
4. Motivated by some evidence (e.g., past research)*
5. Constructed before you begin research (i.e., a priori)
Theories - Answers - Explain a bunch of phenomena, Theories change with the data.
The more phenomena a theory accurately predicts, the more likely it is to be veridical.
what should a good hyppothesis do? - Answers - A good hypothesis should help confirm
or disconfirm a theory
Peer Review* - Answers - Papers/Manuscripts published in a Journal are reviewed by a
panel of experts ("peers") in the field.
Data available for scrutiny (up to 5 years after publication)
Types of Articles - Answers - Empirical Study: Report of original research
Literature Review: Review of entire field
Meta-analysis (new statistical analysis)
Theoretical Article: Advancing theory
Methodological Article: New research method / tool
Case Study: Person, group, community, organization
Goals of Scientific Writing - Answers - 1. Clarity
Continuity of writing style
Transition words to connect ideas
