What Is Psychology?

• What is the primary focus of basic research?


  It answers fundamental questions about behavior.
• What is an example of basic research?


  How nerves conduct impulses from the receptors in the skin to the brain.
• What does applied research investigate?


  Issues that have implications for everyday life and provides solutions.
• What is a goal of applied research?


  To study the most effective methods to reduce depression and drug abuse.
• What is the scientific method?


  A set of assumptions, rules, and procedures scientists use to conduct research.
• What is a theory in scientific research?


  An integrated set of principles that explains and predicts observed relationships.
• What is a conceptual variable?


  Ideas that form the basis of research hypotheses.
• What are the key takeaways regarding the use of the scientific method in psychology?


  • Psychologists use the scientific method to generate, accumulate, and report knowledge.
  • Basic research answers questions about behavior.
  • Applied research finds solutions to everyday problems.
  • Both types of research inform each other and advance science.
  • Research reports are published in scientific journals for peer review.
  • Organizing principles like laws and theories provide structure to scientific methods.
  • Ethical concerns must be addressed in research.
  • A cost-benefit analysis determines the feasibility of research.
• What is a research design?


  The specific method a researcher uses to collect, analyze, and interpret data.
• What are the three major research designs used by psychologists?

  1. Descriptive

  • Goal: Create a snapshot of current affairs
  • Advantages: Complete picture, develops further questions
  • Disadvantages: No relationship assessment, potential ethical issues

  1. Correlational

  • Goal: Assess relationships between variables
  • Advantages: Tests expected relationships, real-life events
  • Disadvantages: Cannot infer causation

  1. Experimental

  • Goal: Assess causal impact of manipulations
  • Advantages: Draws causal conclusions
  • Disadvantages: Cannot manipulate all variables, may be costly
• What are some examples of descriptive research designs?

  Case studies, surveys, and naturalistic observation.
• How do correlational research designs present variables?

  Variables are presented on a scatter plot.
• What is a common issue in correlation research designs?

  Common causal variables may produce a spurious relationship.
• What does experimental research involve?

  The manipulation of an independent variable and measurement of a dependent variable.
• When is research considered valid?

  When the conclusions drawn by the researcher are legitimate.
• What are the types of validity important in research interpretation?

  1. Construct validity: Assurance that measured variables accurately reflect conceptual variables.
  2. Statistical conclusion validity: Assurance that inferences about significance are appropriate.
  3. Internal validity: Assurance that the independent variable has caused the dependent variable.
  4. External validity: Assurance that effects can be replicated across different contexts.
• What enhances internal validity?

  Reducing or eliminating confounding variables.
• How is external validity assessed?

  Through replication of effects across different manipulations, measures, and populations.
• What method do scientists use to understand external validity?

  Meta-analysis.