Experimental psychology

What is intuition provide provide an example and list any potential problems?

Is the first approach to acquiring knowledge. Is the act or process of coming to direct knowledge or certainty without reasoning or inferring

Jackie's friend tells her what to do in her personal life based on her "gut instincts." A more formal name for this source of knowledge is:

The problem is that it does not provide a mechanism for separating accurate from inaccurate knowledge

What is authority provide an example unless any potential problems?

Refers to the acceptance of information or fact stated by another person because that person is a highly respected source

If you accept your physician's explanation for your illness without researching your condition or asking how she came to her conclusion, you are relying on _______________ as a source of knowledge.

The problem with this approach is that informational fact, stated by the authority might be inaccurate

What is rationalism provide an example in this any potential problems?

The gain of knowledge, through reasoning

A rationalist Wordle player uses logic and reasoning (not random guessing) to systematically figure out the correct word.

One danger of this is it’s not unusual for two well-meaning and honest individuals to reach different conclusions

What is empiricism provided example enlist any potential problems?

Is the gain of knowledge through experience

When studying flashcards, you learn through direct experience by seeing recalling of knowledge Repeatedly

Perception is affected by lots of variables, past experiences in our motivation at the time of perceiving can alter what we see,our memory for rent does not remain constant,we forget things and may have distortions of memory

Describe the historical process with Induction and providing an example

reasoning process that involves going from specific observations to general conclusions.

📘 Example: Observing several children being aggressive at a daycare and concluding that children in general tend to be aggressive.

was the dominant scientific method from the late seventeenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, used by scientists such as Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton to develop general laws from observed phenomena.

Describe the historical process Associated with deduction and provide an example

Defined by Aristotle refers from going to general to specific,

• Levine’s (2000) study predicting that seeing a group task as important reduces social loafing

describe historical processes associated with hypothesistesting, and provide an example

is the process by which investigator formulate a hypothesis to explain some phenomenon that has been observed, and then compares the hypothesis with fact

Proctor and Capaldi in 2001 argue that the era of _____ testing extended from 1850 to 1990 and is still very important for scientific active activity in psychology

as a scientific methodology was associated with logical positive movement

assumption that there is reality in nature

The assumption that the things we see here feel smell and taste are real

what is discoverability?

it is possible to _____ the regularities that exist in nature

scientist make the assumption that there is an underlying reality and the attempt to uncover this reality

what is uniformity regularity in nature

If there was no uniformity in the nature, there could be no understanding, explanation or knowledge about nature without regularity we could not develop theories or laws or generalization

understand the importance of control, Operationalism, and replication characteristics of science research and discuss what it might mean if each of these is missing

Refers to the elimination of influence of extraneous variables, if this was missing might mean there’s no comparison, no control group, or variables aren’t managed properly

Explains exactly how you measure or identify something in an experiment, if missing could mean variables aren’t clearly defined in measurable terms

Refers to the reproduction of the results of a study in a new study could mean if missing research can be repeated or results haven’t been tested again

Give examples of operationalizing constructs

Turning abstract ideas (constructs) into something measurable

Stress

happiness

Anxiety

What is placebo effect? give an example?

Is the improvement due to our participants expectations for improvement rather than the actual treatment?

A person takes a sugar pill they believe is medicine and their headache gets better.

Explain pseudoscience and provide specific examples of factors of pseudoscience

Is an approach that claims to be scientific, but is based on methods and practices that violate many tenants of science

creating new ad hoc hypothesis in order to explain away negative findings

using ambiguous or confusing language to make claim sound like it went through scientific scrutiny

Relying on testimonials supporting claim

Descriptive vs experimental research

Focuses on describing some phenomenon, event or situation.tells you what is happening

Attempts to identify cause-and-effect relationship by conducting controlled psychological experiments. tells you why it’s happening

What are the advantages and disadvantages of experimental approach?

causal inference, causal description, causal explanation, ability to manipulate variables, control,

Does not test effects of non-manipulation variables, artificiality, inadequate method of science inquiry

What is qualitative and quantitative research and the types of data collected in each

Collects non-numerical data is statements written records pics, observed behavior to answer research question

Collects numerical data to answer results questions and is most popular type of research in psychology

What is a dependent variable, an independent variable and extraneous variable give an example of each

The ______________ variable is the presumed cause of another variable, while the ______________ variable is the presumed effect.

is a variable that competes with the independent variable in explaining the outcome

A researcher wants to see if sleep affects test performances

• IV = cause (sleep)

• DV = effect (test performance)

• Extraneous = outside influences (like caffeine)

What is field experiment vs laboratory experiment what are the times for use and benefits and problems

Conducted in a real life setting, while experiments are actively manipulates variables, and carefully controls the influence of many extraneous variables

More realistic

Cannot control extraneous variables

conducted an laboratory, investigator, precisely manipulates, one or more independent variables, and controls influence of all or nearly all extraneous variables

Prob- artificiality problems

Can control extraneous variables

• Use lab experiments for control and precision.

• Use field experiments for realism and natural behavior.

What is Internet experiment, the time for use and the benefits and problems?

Experimental study conducted over the Internet

Use when you need large, diverse samples or when your research dose not need lab

Some advantages are ease of reach to participants from previously inaccessible areas, brings experiment to the participant, has high statistical power because it has access to large samples, has direct assessment of motivational confounding, cost savings

Issues include multiple submission Lack of experimental control, self selection, dropout.

What is natural manipulation research the time for use and then the benefits and problems

explains possible causes that are not usually manipulated by researcher but the causal variable is one that describes a natural occurring contrast between a treatment and a comparison condition

Use ___________ research when the variable happens on its own, not by the researcher — it’s realistic and ethical, but harder to control and prove causation.

What is correlational study? When do you use it in? What are the benefits and problems with it?

Measures two variables, and then determining the degree of the relationship that exists between them

Enabling us to accomplish the research objectives of description and prediction

One weakness is when someone assumes that simply because two variables are related did that one causes the other

Cross-sectional study vs longitudinal study

Study conducted at a single time. Period and data are collected from multiple groups. Data are collected during a single brief time. You use it when you compare different groups at a single point in time.

Quick inexpensive, no follow up needed and is easy to collect large samples

Problem is it changes over time

You use it when you want to study people over a long period of time Data are collected at two or more points in time. Has aged cohort effect. All individuals within this cohort experience, similar environmental events.

Shows real change overtime, stronger for showing cause-and-effect patterns but is time consuming and expensive

Research vs Noel hypothesis

Is the researchers predicted relationship among the variables being investigated?

Is a statement of no relationship among the variables being investigated and is used in a statistical analysis

What are the aspects of a good research question

a relation was expressed between the variables. The problem was stated in question form, and it was possible to test the problem empirically

Specificity of research question

What is relationship between society and science what are the ethical concerns and give an example?

The extent to its societal concerns and cultural values should direct the course of scientific investigation

An example is aids prior to 1980s. It was very unheard of few federal dollars were committed to investigating this disorder but when AIDS turned off in the US population and its lethal characteristics was identified, it rapidly became a national concern. Millions of dollars was immediately invested to find cures.

Conflict of interest

Creating a new drug to make more money

What are the ethical concerns in professional issues? give example.

Research misconduct.

Fabrication falsification or plagiarism this can look like forging, falsifying data, manipulating results to support theory or a selectively reporting data

The most serious crime in the scientific profession is to cheat or present fraudulent results

What are the ethical concerns with treatment of research participants and give examples?

The conduct of research with humans can potentially create a great deal of physical and psychological harm

An example is a radiation study was conducted on patients with cancer resistance to radiation in these experiments. The principal investigator even stated that he was experimenting, not treating the patient’s disease. And a was a 25% mortality rate

What is fabrication give example

Definition: Making up data or results and pretending they are real.

Example: A psychologist invents fake participants or data to support their hypothesis.

What is falsification and given an example

Definition: Changing or manipulating data, equipment, or procedures so results are misleading.

Example: A researcher edits participants’ scores to make a treatment seem more effective.

What is plagiarism and given an example

Definition: Using someone else’s ideas or words without giving them credit.

Example: Copying text from another researcher’s paper into your own report without citing them.

What are the primary ethical dilemmas that psychological researchers face?

determine if potential gain and knowledge from the research study outweigh the cost to the research participant

Give primary consideration to welfare of participant

Can’t have biased because you might exaggerate it scientific merit or potential contribution

Investigators must submit a research protocol that the IRB can review

List the ethical principles important in conducting research discussed violations of these ethical principles provide examples from historical psychological studies

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What is cost benefit analysis and how do you apply to a study?

Comparing the potential benefits of a study to the possible risks or harms to decide if the research is ethically acceptable.

1. Identify benefits (e.g., new knowledge, better treatments).

2. Identify costs (e.g., stress, harm, privacy risks).

3. Compare — do benefits outweigh the costs?

4. Modify study to reduce risks (use consent, debriefing, etc.).

IRB vs. IACUC

Reviews studies involving human participants to ensure ethical treatment.

Reviews studies involving animals to ensure humane care and minimize suffering.

Informed Consent

Definition: Participants must be told the purpose, procedures, risks, and right to withdraw before agreeing to join.

Importance: Protects participants’ autonomy.

Exceptions: Some field or deception studies where revealing full info would ruin results (but must debrief later).

Deception

Definition: Intentionally withholding or misleading participants about the true purpose of a study.

Appropriate Use: Only if necessary, causes no harm, and participants are debriefed afterward.

Debriefing

Definition: Explaining the study’s purpose and procedures after participation.

Importance: Reduces distress and restores trust.

Major Elements: Reveal true purpose, explain deception, answer questions, ensure participant well-being.

Confidentiality vs. Anonymity

Researcher knows participants’ identities but keeps data private.

No identifying information is collected at all.

Animal Welfare vs. Animal Rights

Animal Welfare: Animals can be used in research if treated humanely and suffering is minimized.

Animal Rights: Belief that animals should never be used for research under any condition.

APA-Formatted Research Report

1. Title Page

2. Abstract

3. Introduction

4. Method

5. Results

6. Discussion

7. References

8. Times New Roman 12 pt

Proper Language Choice

• Avoid bias (e.g., say “participants with depression” not “depressed people”).

• Be precise with terms and labels.

• Use professional, objective tone — no slang or emotional language.

Proper Citation Techniques

In-Text Citation Example:

(Author, Year) → e.g., (Smith, 2021)

Direct Quote Example:

(Smith, 2021, p. 45)

Reference Page:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work in italics. Publisher.

Purpose: Give credit and avoid plagiarism.

Presenting Research in Other Forms

Oral presentations, posters, or elevator pitches.

Tip: Know your audience, summarize key points clearly, and use visuals effectively.

Oral Presentation Tips

• Practice timing and clarity.

• Start with purpose, methods, results, and implications.

• Speak confidently and maintain eye contact.

• Use visuals or slides to support, not distract.

Elevator Pitch

A short, 30–60 second summary of your study.

Goal: Explain what your research is about, why it matters, and what you found — quickly and clearly.

Tip: Focus on the “hook” — what makes your research interesting or important.