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Ch. 1
Science of Psychology
18
Psychology
Undergraduate 4
08/08/2013

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Cards

Term
What does the science of psychology deal with?
Definition
Only with empirical evidence
Term
What is empirical evidence?
Definition
evidence capable of being observed, directly or indirectly

-aesthetics, moral issues, and the metaphysical science does not deal with empiral evidence
Term
What are the goals of psychology?
Definition
1. Describe
2. Explain
3. Predit
4. Influence
Term
What is the difference between science and common sense?
Definition
-science uses objective data, common sense uses subjective data
-Science uses systematic observation common sense uses hit or miss observation
-Science relies on evidence, common sense ignores couterevidence and is often swayed by belief
Term
What is wrong with belief that is not backed by science?
Definition
1. you can believe anything you want, sensible or not
2. stating a belief is really just telling people about yourself
3. you cannot make anyone believe anything
Term
What 3 things does science do?
Definition
1. avoids biases and errors of common sense
2. relies only on evidence
3. deals only with empircal issues
Term
What types of reasoning does science use?
Definition
Induction and Deduction
Term
What is deductive reasoning?
Definition
-Deriving truths inherent in other truths using logic
-Requires true premises
-Can prove things
Term
What is inductive reasoning?
Definition
-Extrapolating from data based on current experience
-Probabilistic: Provides evidence to support things, never proves them
Term
How does using science prove things?
Definition
-Science is empirical
-Empirical knowledge is inductive
-Induction doesn’t prove things
Ergo, Science doesn’t prove things
Term
What is a theory?
Definition
- An explanation for data
Term
How is a theory judged?
Definition
Quality of the data – use scientific method
-How well the theory fits the data
Term
How do you make a theory go away?
Definition
By replacing the theory with a better theory
Term
What 3 research methods are useds to test a theory?
Definition
1.Observational studies
2. experiments
3. experiments of nature
Term
What is observation studies with regards to research?
Definition
-Observe X and Y in their natural setting
-Use correlation (how well two values go together) to see what goes together
-Directionality(spanking kids make them more aggressive or does aggressive kids need more spankings):
Does AB, or B?
-Third Variables (ice cream sales and infant mortality rates):
Term
What are experiments with regards to research?
Definition
-Manipulate one or more independent variables (two random groups of kids, half playing a violent video game, other half playing non violent)
-Look for changes in dependent variables
-Random Assignment (equals out the third variable)
-Causal claims possible (since eliminated third variable and directionality)
Term
What are experiments of nature with regards to research?
Definition
-Collect data before possible causal event
-Collect data afterward, see if other variables affected
-Allows gross causal claims

-There are 3 methods
Term
What are the 3 developmental methods used in experiments of nature?
Definition
1.Longitudinal Methods - across time, can be costly
2. Cross Sectional Methods - shor cutting, may suffer from cohort effects
3.Combination Methods-start with a range of age groups
-follow them longitudinally to fill in the age gaps
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