Psych 301 Midterm #1 Study Guide

Chapter 1.

What is the empirical method?

What do scientists mean by theory, and how can it differ from a hypothesis?

How is it different from the everyday definition of theory? 

Can you sketch out and explain the parts of the theory-data cycle (not Ted's more elaborate ones, just the main one from the text)

Why are skepticism, precision, and openness important to scientists?

What is meant by falsifiability?

Parsimony(unwillingness)?

What constitutes data to a scientist?

Chapter 2.

Why is systematic research usually preferable to simple experience?

What is meant by comparison groups, confounds?

Give an example of the availability heuristic

Why is cherry-picking a problem?

What is confirmatory hypothesis testing, or confirmation bias?

What is the problem with "common sense" stories?

What is the difference between an empirical article, and a review article?

What is a meta-analysis?

What is meant by effect size?

What is the typical anatomy of an empirical article, and what goes into each section?

Chapter 3.

Be able to distinguish and give examples of the three types of claims...frequency, association, and causal.

Why are covariance, temporal precedence, and internal validity important?

Know what a positive, negative, curvilinear, or zero association looks like, and be able to sketch one on a scatter plot.

How does each validity Construct, Internal, Statistical, or External relate to each kind of claim?

Know what is relevant for each kind of validity.

Be able to pose questions about the validity of a study when described it...

Be able to define, recognize, and give an example of: the margin of error, strength or size of an association, or difference, statistical significance.

What is a false positive (Type I error)? What is a false negative (Type II error)? Give an example of each.

Research Ethics:

Know the components of the Belmont Report and how they function in research. Provide examples of each principle and how it plays out.

Respect for Persons

Beneficence

Justice

What is an Institutional Review Board?

What do we mean by informed consent?

Why is it important?

Is deception ever used?

What is a debriefing?

What does it mean to balance risks and benefits?

Who are considered to be vulnerable populations?

What kinds of harm do social scientists need to consider?

What other ethical considerations might we have aside from the protection of human subjects?