EXPE LEC Chapter 1 : Experimental Psychology and the Scientific Method

science

connotes content and process

methodology

scientific techniques to collect and evaluate psychological data

data

the facts and figures gathered in research studies

commonsense psychology (Heider, 1958)

this approach uses nonscientific sources
of data and nonscientific inference

nonscientific inferences

is the nonscientific use of information to explain or predict behavior.

stereotyping

a nonscientific inference where we falsely assume that specific behaviors cluster together.

For example, since Imei is a Chinese-American student, she must study 10 hours a day and excel at math. In reality, she failed calculus.
_____ ignore individual differences.

gambler’s fallacy

a nonscientific inference where people misuse data to estimate the probability of an event, like when a slot machine will pay off.

but, each spin is entirely random and independent, so your odds of winning a jackpot this time are identical to your odss of winning in any other time

overconfidence bias

we feel more confident about our conclusions than is warranted by available data.

This form of nonscientific inference can result in erroneous conclusions when we don’t recognize the limitations of supporting data.

we are even more confident when we have more available data, whether this data is accurate or not

scientific mentality

assumes that behavior follows a natural order and can be predicted. 

This assumption is essential to science. There is no point to using the scientific method to gather and analyze data if there is no implicit order.

empirical

Data are _______ when observed or experienced

law

consists of statements generally expressed as equations with few variables
that have overwhelming empirical support.

theory

is an interim explanation; a set of related statements used explain and predict phenomena.

___ integrate diverse data, explain behavior, and predict new instances of behavior.

good thinking

We engage in __________ when data collection and interpretation are systematic, objective, and rational.

parsimony

is that we prefer the simplest useful explanation

principle of modus tollens

allows us to disprove statements using a single, contrary observation.

We can never prove a statement because a contradictory observation might be found later.

replication

is an exact or systematic repetition of a study.

________ increases our confidence in experimental results by adding to the weight of supporting evidence.

description

is a systematic and unbiased account of observed characteristics of behaviors

prediction

is the capability of knowing in advance when certain behaviors should occur.

explanation

is knowledge of the conditions that reliably produce a behavior

control

is the use of scientific knowledge to influence behavior.

applied research

addresses real-world problems like how to improve student graduation rates.

basic research

tests theories and explains psychological phenomena like helping behaviortests theories and explains psychological phenomena like helping behavior

observation

is the systematic noting and recording of events

systematic

means that
the procedures are consistently applied

measurement

assigns numbers to objects, events, or their characteristics. This is an inherent feature of quantitative research

experimentation

is the process we use to test the predictions we call hypotheses and establish cause-and-effect relationships

testable

Experimentation is not always possible because our predictions must be ______

pseudoscience

is any field of study that
gives the appearance of being scientific,
but has no true scientific basis and has not
been confirmed using the scientific method.

Modern __________s include past life regression, reparenting, and rebirthing.