The Lessons of Scientific Research in Psychology

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary from the lecture on the lessons of scientific research in psychology.

Skepticism

The value of questioning extraordinary claims and not taking them at face value.

Critical Thinking

The process of evaluating information and developing alternative perspectives.

Parsimony

The principle that prefers the simplest explanation among competing theories.

Observer-Expectancy Effects

When researchers unintentionally signal their expectations to subjects, influencing their behavior.

Controlled Conditions

Conditions under which observations are made with a degree of manipulation to ensure accuracy in experimentation.

Clever Hans

A horse that was thought to answer questions, illustrating the problem of unintentional cues in research.

Expectation Bias

The phenomenon where subjects alter their behavior based on their perception of the researcher's expectations.

Occam's Razor

A problem-solving principle that states that the simplest solution is usually the best.