Short Answer Assignment 2 PDF

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Week 2 Short Answer Assignment 1. What are the key attitudes and thought processes involved in science and why are they important? Curiosity, skepticism and humility are key for any work in the sciences and no authentic scientific work can be accomplished without employing them. These traits allow Critical Thinking which leads to seeking explanations, finding facts supporting explanations, checking sources and determining validity of said facts, identify biases, analysing data, looking for other explanations, etc. Critical thinking follows a logical and objective thought process and is vital as it is the basis of the Scientific Method.

2. What are the key elements of an experiment and how do they allow for more causal explanations of psychological phenomena? The key components of an experiment are:  Experimental groups and control groups.  Independent variables, dependant variables, confounding variables and constants. Members of both groups are picked at random and this randomisation allows for a general representation of a population. Thus, allowing for more casual explanations as common behaviours found in many are studied rather than specific ones. The variables can be manipulated to study general theoretical principles which can help explain everyday behaviour rather than particular ones.

3. How is correlation different from experimentation? Why can’t causal explanations be implied from correlation? Correlation is an observed relation between two or more attributes. While Experimentations are tests performed, using a set method, to offer experimental evidence proving or disproving a scientific hypothesis, theory, etc. Correlation does not prove causation but indicates a possible cause-effect relationship. Experiments can prove a possible cause-effect relationship. Casual explanations cannot be implied as Correlation only offers predictions of causation and allows no manipulation or proof. It cannot solidly explain common behaviour, only offer potential causes of it....