psyc 295 exam 1

• empricism: the use of verifiable evidence as the basis for conclusion; collecting data systematically and using it to develop/ support or challenge a theory
• theory: a set of statements that describes general principles about how variables relate to one another
• hypothesis: prediction
• data: set of observations
• theory- data cycle: theory- research queditions- research design- hypothesis (preregistered)- data
• preregistration: the researcher states publicly what the study’s outcome is expected to be (before collecting any data)
• scientists don’t prove theories: data support or is consistent
• weight of the evidence: a conclusion drawn from reviewing scientific literatur/ considering the proportion of studies that is consistent with a theory
• a good theory is falsifiabl: possible to collect data that will indicate that the theory is wrong
• disinterestedness: discover the truth no matter what, accept what the data tells them, not influenced by their own beliefs
• organized skepticism: questions everything, asks to see evidence
• applied research: practical problem
• basic research: enhance general body knowledge
• translational research: lessons from basic resea to develop/ test applications to healthcare or other forms of treatment
• confounds: potential alternative explanation for a research finding; a threat to internal validity
• confederate: an actor playing a specific role for the experimenter
• probabilistic: its findings do not explain all cases all of the time
• availability heuristic: things that pop up easily in our mind tend to guide our thinking (overestimating events)
• presen/ present bias: reflects our failure to consider appropriate comparison groups
• confirmation bias: cherry picking the information we take in- seeking and accepting only the evidence that supports what we already think
• bias blind spot: thinking that you as an individual is less biased than others, but you are not
• empirical journal article: report for the first time the results of (empirical) research study
• review journal article: summarize and integrate all the published studies that have been done in one research area
• meta-analysis: combines the results of many studies and gives a number that summarizes the magnitude
• effect size: the strength of a relationship between 2 or more variables
• construct validity: how well a variable was measured or manipulated in a study
• generalizability: how did the researchers choose the study’s participants ..how well do those participants represent the intended populationg
• external validity: how well the results of a study represent people or contexts besides those in the original study
• statistical validity: how well the members support the claim
• covariance: the extent to which the variables are observed to go together
• temporal precedence: the method was designed so that the causal variable clearly comes first in time before the effect variable
• internal validity: a study’s ability to eliminate alternative explanations for the association
• debriefed: carefully informed about the stud’s hypotheses afterward
• The Belmont Report (1979) :A document that outlines the ethical principles that guide researchers in the conduct of research.
• respect for persons: research participants should be treated as autonomous agents who have the right to decide whether or not to participate in research
• informed consent: the right of a participant to know about a project, its risks and benefit/ decide whether to participate
• special protection: children, people with disabilities and prisoners
• beneficence: researchers must maximize benefits and minimize harm to participants
• justice: fair distribution of burdens and benefits among those involved in research
• apa ethical principles (2002): 1)beneficence & nonmaleficence

  2) fidelity & responsibility

  3) integrity

  4) justice

  5) respect for people’s rights & dignity