Experimental Psych

Experimental Psychology

relies heavily on a structured and systematic approach to studying behavior and mental processes

Personal Experience

Individuals may rely on ____, but these are subjective and prone to bias, making them unreliable as a source of data.

Authority

Information obtained from __ figures or experts may not always be accurate or based on scientific evidence.

Tradition

Practices or beliefs passed down through generations can be outdated or incorrect.

Intuition and Common Sense

These can often lead to errors in judgment as they are influenced by cognitive biases and lack systematic validation.

Nonscientific Interference

involves making conclusions without proper scientific evidence. This can lead to incorrect generalizations or misconceptions.

Modern Science

is characterized by several key principles that ensure the reliability and validity of findings.

Scientific Mentality

A mindset that values curiosity, skepticism, and a systematic approach to understanding the world. Scientists are motivated to ask questions and seek evidence-based answers.

Gathering of Empirical Data

Empirical data is information obtained through direct observation or experimentation. This data is critical in forming and testing hypotheses.

Seeking General Principles

Scientists aim to uncover general principles that can explain a wide range of phenomena. These principles help in predicting and understanding behavior in different contexts.

Good Thinking

This involves logical reasoning, clear and precise expression of ideas, and critical analysis of evidence. ___ ensures that conclusions are based on sound reasoning rather than assumptions or biases.

Self-Correction

Scientific knowledge evolves over time as new evidence emerges. Researchers are open to revising their theories and conclusions in light of new data.

Communicating Results

Effective communication of research findings is essential for scientific progress. This involves publishing results in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at conferences, and engaging with the broader scientific community.

Replication

___ is the process of repeating studies to verify results. It is a crucial aspect of scientific research that ensures findings are reliable and not due to chance or specific conditions of a single study.

Scientific Method

is the backbone of psychological research. It provides a systematic approach to investigating questions, gathering data, and forming conclusions.

Observation

is the systematic recording of behavior or phenomena as they occur in their natural setting. This can be done directly (e.g., watching participants in a lab setting) or indirectly (e.g., analyzing existing data, using video recordings).

Observational Studies

provide valuable insights, especially when experimental manipulation is not possible or ethical.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing subjects in their natural environment without interference.

Controlled Observation

Observing subjects under specific conditions set by the researcher.

Measurement

involves the use of tools and techniques to quantify behaviors, thoughts, or physiological responses. It allows for the objective assessment of variables in a study, ensuring that data is reliable and can be analyzed statistically.

Psychological measurement

can include self-report surveys, behavioral checklists, physiological measures (e.g., heart rate, brain activity), and standardized tests.

Operational Definitions

Defining variables in a way that they can be measured

Scales of Measurement

Nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales used to depend on the type of data.

Experimentation

is a method used to test hypotheses by manipulating one or more independent variables and observing the effect on a dependent variable. This method allows researchers to determine cause-and-effect relationships.

Random Assignment

Ensures that participants are randomly allocated to different groups (e.g., control vs. experimental) to eliminate bias.

Control groups

Used to compare against the experimental group to see the effect of the independent variable.

Independent and Dependent Variables

The independent variable is what the experimenter manipulates, while the dependent variable is what is measured.

Research ethics

are fundamental principles that guide the conduct of research to ensure integrity, respect for participants, and the credibility of scientific work.