Chapter 1 Thinking Critically with Psychological Science PDF

Preview

Summary

Summary of Chapter 1 of the course's textbook, with definitions...

Description

Chapter 1: Thinking Critically with Psychological Science The Need For Psychological Science 1.1 Hindsight bias, overconfidence and the tendency to perceive order in random events often leads us to overestimate our intuition. 1.2 Skepticism, curiosity and humility are essential components to critical thinking. Critical thinking: thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses conclusions. Intuition: an effortless, immediate automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning. Hindsight bias: the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it (knew-it-all-along-phenomenon) Research Strategies: How Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions 1.3 The scientific method is essential to developing knowledge. It starts with a theory, from which one forms hypotheses which hence leads to research (that can be repeated) and observations. 1.4 Psychologists use a variety of research methods (case studies, naturalistic observations and surveys to observe and describe behaviours. 1.5 When two variables (such as behaviours) are related to each other, they are said to be correlated. 1.6 Regression towards the mean describes a statistical phenomenon in which after an unusual event, things tend to turn towards their average level. 1.7 Correlation enables prediction but not cause-effect relationships - it hints at the possibility of cause-effect relationships. 1.8 Experimentation can reveal cause-effect relationships because of its ability to isolate the effects of one or more factors by: (1) manipulating the factors of interest and (2) holding constant (“controlling”) other factors. 1.9 Laboratory experiments test theoretical principles by creating a simplified reality that simulates and controls important features of everyday life. 1.10 Ethics have place in psychological research for both humans and animals. Values in psychology influence what we study, how we study it and how we interpret the results. Theory: an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviours or events Hypothesis: a testable prediction, often implied by a theory Operational definition: a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study. Replication: repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.

Case study: a descriptive technique in which an individual or a small group of people is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles. Naturalistic observation: a descriptive technique of observing and recording behaviour in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation. Survey: a descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviours of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group. Population: all those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn. Random sample: a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of conclusion Correlation: a measure of the extent to which 2 factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other Correlation coefficient: a statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1.00 to +1.00) Scatterplot: a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength. Regression toward the mean: the tendency for extreme or unusual scores or events to fall back (regress) back toward the average. Experiment: a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (IVs) to observe the effect on some behaviour or mental process (DV). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors. Experimental group: in an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the IV Control group: in an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of treatment. Random assignment: assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing any preexisting differences between the different groups. Double-blind procedure: an experimental procedure in which both the researchers and participants are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the placebo or treatment. Placebo effect: experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behaviour caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent. IV: in an experiment, the factor being manipulated Confounding variable: a factor other than the IV that might produce an effect DV: the outcome that is being measured Informed consent: giving potential participants enough information about a study to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate Debriefing: the post experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants Statistical Reasoning in Everyday Life

1.11 Researchers use descriptive statistics, summarize the data using measures of central tendency and measures of variation when examining data. 1.12 Inferential statistics help us determine if results can be generalized to a larger population. Mode: the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution Mean: the arithmetic average of a distribution Median: the middle score in a distribution Range: the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution Standard deviation: a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score Normal curve: a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean and fewer and fewer new the extremes Statistical significance: a statistical statement of how likely it is that a result is obtained by chance...