Evaluating theories

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of reductionism in understanding human behavior?

  Strengths:

  • Allows scientific testing of behaviors
  • Facilitates predictions about behavior

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Ignores the bigger picture
  • Fails to consider other important factors
• What does 'nature' refer to in the context of human behavior?

  People are the way they are because of how they were born, genetics, or biological dispositions
• What does 'nurture' refer to in the context of human behavior?

  People are the way they are because of others' influence or environmental factors
• What ia the Nature vs. Nurture debate?

  Psychologists debate what influences behaviour more, a person's nature (their genes, how they were born, what is natural for them) or a person's nurture (their upbringing, the environment they were raised, where they live)
• What are the two key debates in development psychology?

  NATURE vs. NURTURE and REDUCTIONISM vs. HOLISM
• What are the key considerations in the GRAVEE framework?

  • Generalisability
  • Reliability
  • Application
  • Validity
  • Ethics
  • Economic Implications
• What is a theory?

  A set of statements that summarise and explain mental/behavioural patterns within the context of society/culture
• What does external validity examine in a study?

  Factors outside the study's context
• How does ecological validity relate to real-life situations?

  It assesses if study tasks reflect real life
• What is meant by high ecological validity?

  The study reflects real-life situations well
• What happens if a study has low ecological validity?

  Results cannot be generalized to real life
• What does population validity refer to?

  Sample representation of the wider population
• Why do psychologists use samples in studies?

  They cannot study everyone in the population
• What is the consequence of low population validity?

  Difficulty in generalizing study results
• What does face validity assess?

  If a test appears to measure what it claims
• How does construct validity relate to assessments?

  Measures relate to the characteristics assessed
• What is concurrent validity?

  Correlation with previously validated measures
• How can you test concurrent validity?

  Compare results with an alternative measure
• What does criterion validity include?

  Concurrent and predictive validity
• How does criterion validity relate to predictions?

  It predicts performance or behavior accurately
• What are the types of validity discussed in the study material?

  • External validity
  • Ecological validity
  • Population validity
  • Face validity
  • Construct validity
  • Concurrent validity
  • Criterion validity
• What are the implications of low validity in research?

  • Difficulty in generalizing results
  • Potential bias in findings
  • Reduced reliability of conclusions
• What does validity refer to in a study?

  It refers to the aim of the study.
• What is construct validity?

  It checks how behavior was defined and measured.
• Why is construct validity important?

  It ensures accurate investigation of behavior.
• What does external validity examine?

  Factors outside the study's context.
• What is ecological validity?

  It assesses if study tasks reflect real life.
• What happens if a study has low ecological validity?

  Results cannot be generalized to real life.
• What does reliability refer to in research?

  Consistency or replicability of results.
• What is internal reliability?

  It refers to the standardization of procedures.
• Why is standardization important for internal reliability?

  It allows for consistent participant experiences.
• What is external reliability?

  Replicability of results in different groups.
• How can external reliability be checked?

  By replicating findings in other research.
• What does population validity refer to?

  Representativeness of the sample to the population.
• Why is low population validity a problem?

  It limits generalization of study results.
• What is inter-rater reliability?

  Agreement level between different observers.
• How can inter-rater reliability be improved?

  By ensuring observers use the same coding system.
• What does ecological validity assess?

  Applicability of findings to natural environments.
• How can ecological validity be ensured?

  By conducting studies in real-life situations.
• What is the problem if a study lacks ecological validity?

  Results won't apply to real-life situations.