FINAL: Science Foundations

Theory Revision

updating scientific explanations when new evidence emerges

Scientific Literacy

ability to understand and evaluate scientific information

Importance of Scientific Literacy

helps people make informed decisions in health, policy, education, and daily life

Operational Definition

a precise definition of how a variable is measured in a study

Systematic Empiricism

careful, structured observation and measurement

Peer Review

evaluation of research by experts before publication

Solvable Problem

a research question that can be tested scientifically

Observation

careful recording of behavior or events

Pseudoscience

claims that appear scientific but lack evidence and proper testing

Probabilistic Reasoning

using statistical likelihood rather than personal stories to make conclusions

Nuremberg Code

ethical guidelines created after WWII emphasizing voluntary consent and informed consent after horrific human experimentation by Nazis

APA Ethics Code

mandatory standards of conduct and guidelines for confidentiality, validity, and complex moral issues

Belmont Report

foundational document for ethics with three principles: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice

Respect for Persons

treating participants as autonomous and protecting vulnerable individuals

Beneficence

maximizing benefits and minimizing harm

Justice

fair distribution of risks and benefits

Data Fabrication

making up false data

Data Misrepresentation

altering data to mislead results

Deception

misleading participants when necessary for research validity and requiring debriefing afterward

Debriefing

explaining the true purpose of a study after participatio