Review for Chapter 1- Psychology is a Way of Thinking

PSYC 302

someone who takes research and applies it to their career or daily life

consumer

someone who facilitates the research process in order to increase knowledge

producer

leads researchers to pose particular

THEORY

which lead to an appropriate

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

________ to test a specific ________

RESEARCH DESING ------ HYPOTHESIS

the hypothesis is ideally ______ before they collect and analyze

PREREGISTERED

__ which feed back into the cycle

DATA

STEPS

THEORY

HYPOTHESIS

DESING

COLLECT DATA

COMPARE

Psychological scientists base their conclusions on evidence. They collect and use data to develop, support, or challenge a theory. What is this approach called?

empiricism

Jimin comes across a news report with the headline "Protein shakes make you a better athlete." Identify the tactics that Jimin should take to avoid being misled by this news report.

CORRECT TACTICS

have a skeptical mindset and ask questions about the results

consult the original source of the article

Jimin comes across a news report with the headline "Protein shakes make you a better athlete." Identify the tactics that Jimin should take to avoid being misled by this news report.

INCORRECT TACTICS

accept that everything in the article is true

use common sense to decide whether the news report is true or false

assume that the journalist's report is completely wrong

Scientists question their own theories and even widely accepted ideas.

organized skepticism

Scientific claims are evaluated based on merit, and not by the researcher's reputation.

universalism

Scientific knowledge is created by and belongs to the community.

communality

Scientists are not swayed by profit or idealism but rather strive to discover the truth.

disinterestedness

Using evidence from the senses (or from an instrument, such as a thermometer or questionnaire, that assists the senses) as the basis for conclusions is known as what?

EMPIRICISM

A scientific _________ is a periodic publication that is _________ and contains articles written by qualified ______

JOURNAL ---- peer-reviewed --- RESEARCHERS

a thermometer

empirical evidence

common sense

not empirical evidence

a questionnaire

empirical evidence

a convincing argument

not empirical evidence

a stopwatch

empirical evidence

an expert opinion

not empirical evidence

Reason(s) to Know How to Be a Producer

- You may need to write a paper following the guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA).

- You may work as an assistant in a psychology lab.

Reason(s) to Know How to Be a Consumer

- You may pursue a career where it is important to have a critical eye.

- You may encounter a mix of high-quality information and false information on social media.

Place the steps of the theory-data cycle in the order in which they usually occur.

theory - research questions - research design - hypothesis - preregistration - data

Yara tells a few of her friends about a study that, she heard, showed that being less motivated to succeed can improve test performance. Yara, however, did not fully understand the study's finding, which was that being overly motivated can hinder test performance.

What is the consequence of Yara's being a poor research consumer?

Yara and her friends could potentially adopt a practice that hurts, rather than helps, their test scores

Which of the following practices are common ways in which journalists misrepresent research studies in their media articles?

Way(s) to Misrepresent Original Research

- selecting only certain parts of the results to write about

- exaggerating the importance of the findings

Which of the following practices are common ways in which journalists misrepresent research studies in their media articles?

Not Way(s) to Misrepresent Original Research

- recalculating the published statistics

- using terms that can only be understood by those with specialized knowledge

Dimitri is interested in understanding the effects of sleep deprivation on short-term memory. Which of the following actions are empirical approaches Dimitri could take to research this topic?

- Empirical Approach(es)

- He could design and implement a study that measures short-term memory function following different amounts of sleep.

- He could conduct a study looking at whether number of hours of sleep is associated with memory function.

Dimitri is interested in understanding the effects of sleep deprivation on short-term memory. Which of the following actions are empirical approaches Dimitri could take to research this topic?

- Not Empirical Approach(es)

- He could watch several movies about sleep deprivation and make a strong, logical argument about the effects of sleep deprivation on short-term memory based on the films.

- He could ask his psychology professor for her opinion on the effects of sleep deprivation on short-term memory.

-

Yousef's professor tells him that his theory about dating is not strong because it is not falsifiable. What does the professor mean by this?

Yousef theory cannot be tested to see whether it is supported by data

creating and testing a hypothesis on sexuality in teenagers

producing research

using previous studies to create a new study that analyzes all of those previous findings

producing research

using research findings to update patients' treatment plans

consuming research

reporting current trends in biology research in a news article

consuming research

Identify the true and false statements about scientific research.

True

- Every theory should be falsifiable.

- Multiple replications of the same study provide strong support for a theory.

Identify the true and false statements about scientific research.

False

- If a result does not support a theory, that theory should be discarded.

- If a researcher tests their hypothesis and the results are as predicted, this proves their theory.

Identify the true and false statements about what researchers should do when the data do not support the theory behind their study's hypothesis.

TRUE

- They should consider revising the theory.

- They should improve the research design.

Identify the true and false statements about what researchers should do when the data do not support the theory behind their study's hypothesis.

FALSE

- They should consider discarding the theory.

- They should disprove the theory.

Junto is conducting a scientific study on elevator size and interpersonal interactions. Match each step Junto takes to its corresponding step in the theory-data cycle.

Junto creates a plan to test participants' levels of awkwardness in different-sized elevators to understand what effect elevator size may have on awkwardness.

research design

Junto is conducting a scientific study on elevator size and interpersonal interactions. Match each step Junto takes to its corresponding step in the theory-data cycle.

Based on previous data, Junto believes that most people do not interact in an elevator because it is a confined space and they feel awkward.

theory

Junto is conducting a scientific study on elevator size and interpersonal interactions. Match each step Junto takes to its corresponding step in the theory-data cycle.

Junto records the participants' awkwardness ratings and analyzes them to see if there is a difference among the different-sized elevators.

data

Junto is conducting a scientific study on elevator size and interpersonal interactions. Match each step Junto takes to its corresponding step in the theory-data cycle.

Junto wonders if a different-sized elevator would change the level of awkwardness people feel in an elevator.

research question

Junto is conducting a scientific study on elevator size and interpersonal interactions. Match each step Junto takes to its corresponding step in the theory-data cycle.

Junto believes that participants will feel less awkward in a larger elevator than in a smaller elevator.

hypothesis

Match each research question to the type of research it falls under.

Can the previously documented persuasive effects of scarcity be used to increase recycling?

translational research

Match each research question to the type of research it falls under.

Do farm safety days decrease accidents among rural children?

applied research

Match each research question to the type of research it falls under. How quickly can the human eye switch between targets?

basic research

Match each research question to the type of research it falls under. Can laboratory studies on empathy's link to racism be used to develop a new program for elementary schools?

translational research

Match each research question to the type of research it falls under. What are the effects of cocaine on the sociability of rats?

basic research

Match each research question to the type of research it falls under. Do tablet computers increase the productivity of nurses in an emergency room?

applied research

collect and analyze data, and present the results to clients

producing research

keep up to date on current product trends

consuming research

look at analyses conducted by other firms, and inform clients of the findings

consuming research

test different marketing strategies to identify the best one

producing research

Harlow's ________ was that baby monkeys would spend most of their time with the fuzzy, cloth-covered mother

hypothesis

Harlow's ______ was that babies are attached to their mothers for the comfort mothers provide, not for the food.

theory

The amount of time baby monkeys spent on the wire mother and the cloth-covered mother was Harlow's___________

data

Applied research

is done with a practical problem in mind and the researchers conduct their work in a local, real-world context.

basic research,

in contrast, is to enhance the general body of knowledge rather than to address a specific, practical problem.

Translational research

is the use of lessons from basic research to develop and test applications to health care, psychotherapy, or other forms of treatment and intervention.

How effective is light therapy at treating depression in college students?

applied research

Is there physiological evidence that circadian rhythm is linked to mood?

basic research

Using the findings of previous research on circadian rhythms, can adjusting light exposure in a laboratory study show an improvement in mood?

translational research

Zanna is a high school teacher. After reading a headline in the newspaper that states, "Scared Straight program sets teens on straight path," she considers implementing this program in her classroom. But when Zanna digs deeper to look at published studies with randomized, controlled groups, she sees that teens who were in a Scared Straight program actually committed more crimes that teens who were not.

What key point does Zanna's experience best illustrate?

the importance of being a smart consumer

Only one study is needed for researchers to be confident about a research finding.

false

Researchers rarely stop at one study; they usually follow up on findings with additional studies.

true

A single study can debunk a theory if the data are inconsistent with the theory.

false

If a research study's findings are consistent with the theory, that is proof that the theory is valid.

false

Researchers will ideally post their hypotheses publicly online before collecting data.

true

After reading about Harlow's contact comfort theory, Dr. Borden wonders if Harlow's findings would apply to premature babies in a neonatal intensive care unit. He designs a study to test whether touch and cuddling could speed up weight gain in premature babies.

What type of research does Dr. Borden's study fall under?

translational

Psychologists engage in what aspect(s) of research?

production and consumption of research

Scientific journal articles usually exaggerate their findings, while news stories do not.

false

Scientific journal articles have multiple contributors, while news stories do not.

false

Scientific journal articles are generally read by scientists and students, while news stories are read by the general public.

true

Scientific journal articles are peer-reviewed, while news stories are not.

true

Not Characteristic(s) of a Good Theory

- intuitive

- proven by data

Characteristic(s) of a Good Theory

- falsifiable

- supported by data

Francesca read about the Mrazek et al. (2013) study in which students scored higher on the GRE after completing a two-week mindfulness training course. She decides to conduct a similar study in which she has students either practice mindfulness or read a passage, and then take an attention span test. Francesca predicts that the students who practiced mindfulness will have better attention span scores. She runs the study and finds that the results match her prediction.

Francesca conducts a second study to see if she finds consistent results.

replication

Francesca read about the Mrazek et al. (2013) study in which students scored higher on the GRE after completing a two-week mindfulness training course. She decides to conduct a similar study in which she has students either practice mindfulness or read a passage, and then take an attention span test. Francesca predicts that the students who practiced mindfulness will have better attention span scores. She runs the study and finds that the results match her prediction.

Francesca submits her findings to a journal to be evaluated for publication.

peer-review process

Francesca read about the Mrazek et al. (2013) study in which students scored higher on the GRE after completing a two-week mindfulness training course. She decides to conduct a similar study in which she has students either practice mindfulness or read a passage, and then take an attention span test. Francesca predicts that the students who practiced mindfulness will have better attention span scores. She runs the study and finds that the results match her prediction.

Francesca goes through the process of conducting a study to evaluate the effects of mindfulness on attention span.

theory-data cycle

Francesca read about the Mrazek et al. (2013) study in which students scored higher on the GRE after completing a two-week mindfulness training course. She decides to conduct a similar study in which she has students either practice mindfulness or read a passage, and then take an attention span test. Francesca predicts that the students who practiced mindfulness will have better attention span scores. She runs the study and finds that the results match her prediction.

Francesca measures the students' performance on the attention task.

collecting data

Francesca read about the Mrazek et al. (2013) study in which students scored higher on the GRE after completing a two-week mindfulness training course. She decides to conduct a similar study in which she has students either practice mindfulness or read a passage, and then take an attention span test. Francesca predicts that the students who practiced mindfulness will have better attention span scores. She runs the study and finds that the results match her prediction.

Francesca submits her expected results to a website before collecting data.

preregistration

Sociologist Robert Merton (1942) named four norms that scientists should follow. One of these norms is ______ communality preregistered organized skepticism disinterestedness self-correcting translational, which means that scientists should accept almost nothing at face value.

organized skepticism

If researchers follow the theory-data cycle and follow the norms of the scientific community, science will be ________

self correcting

A statement, or a set of statements, that describes general principles about how variables are related to one another is a(n) _________

theory

A specific outcome that the researcher expects to find is a(n _______

hypothesis

Choose the answer that best completes the passage. Mercedes comes across an article on Twitter about how some people are wearing tinfoil hats to ward against remote mindreading by the government.

A problem with conspiracy theories, such as government mental surveillance, is that it is impossible to gather evidence to test whether there is support for them. This means that the remote mindreading conspiracy theory is not ______

FALSIFIABLE

Evidence based treatments

Therapies or treatments that are supported by research that can help with mental health issues, behavior problems, or medical conditions.

Empiricism

also referred to as the empirical method or empirical research involves using evidence from the senses (sight, hearing, touch) or from instruments that assist the senses (such as thermometers, timers, photographs, weight scales, and questionnaires) as the basis of conclusions.

Hypothesis

prediction is stated in terms of the study design. Before collecting any data, it is important for researchers to predict a specific outcome of the study

Junto is conducting a scientific study on elevator size and interpersonal interactions. Match each step Junto takes to its corresponding step in the theory-data cycle.

Junto believes that participants will feel less awkward in a larger elevator than in a smaller elevator.

1. Data

2. Theory

3. Research Question

4. Hypothesis

5. Research Design

Hypothesis

Junto is conducting a scientific study on elevator size and interpersonal interactions. Match each step Junto takes to its corresponding step in the theory-data cycle.

Junto records the participants’ awkwardness ratings and analyzes them to see if there is a difference among the different-sized elevators.

1. Data

2. Theory

3. Research Question

4. Hypothesis

5. Research Design

Data

Junto is conducting a scientific study on elevator size and interpersonal interactions. Match each step Junto takes to its corresponding step in the theory-data cycle.

Based on previous data, Junto believes that most people do not interact in an elevator because it is a confined space and they feel awkward.

1. Data

2. Theory

3. Research Question

4. Hypothesis

5. Research Design

Theory

Junto is conducting a scientific study on elevator size and interpersonal interactions. Match each step Junto takes to its corresponding step in the theory-data cycle.

Junto wonders if a different-sized elevator would change the level of awkwardness people feel in an elevator.

1. Data

2. Theory

3. Research Question

4. Hypothesis

5. Research Design

Research question

Junto is conducting a scientific study on elevator size and interpersonal interactions. Match each step Junto takes to its corresponding step in the theory-data cycle.

Junto creates a plan to test participants’ levels of awkwardness in different-sized elevators to understand what effect elevator size may have on awkwardness.

1. Data

2. Theory

3. Research Question

4. Hypothesis

5. Research Design

Research design

Data

Are a set of observations that can be measured like numbers, words, pictures, or sounds that helps you understand something.

Preregistered

A researcher writes down their study plan before they start collecting data and make it public or time stamped. Makes sure that none the plans are changed increases honesty and trust in research.

The word _____ is not used in science.

prove

Falsifiability

A theory should lead to hypotheses that, when tested, could fail to support the theory. Can be tested and possibly shown to be wrong.