Term
| . Define empiricism and describe how it contributes to a scientific method. |
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Definition
| Empiricism is the belief dating back to ancient Greece, that accurate knowledge of the world requires observation of it. |
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Term
| . Explain how complexity,make the study of human behavior difficult |
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Definition
| Complexity refers to the fact that the brain is the most complicated object in the universe. |
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Term
| . Explain how , variability, and make the study of human behavior difficult; |
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Definition
| Variability refers to the fact that no two individuals ever say or think or do the exact same thing under the exact same circumstances |
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Term
| Explain how reactivity make the study of human behavior difficult; |
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Definition
| Reactivity refers to the fact that people often think or feel one way when they are being observed and a different way when they are not being observed |
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Term
| Define an operational definition? |
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Definition
| An operational definition is a description of an abstract property in terms of concrete conditions that can be measured |
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Term
| Explain what a measure is and why measures must be both valid and reliable |
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Definition
A measure is a device which is used to measure the properties specified in an operational definition.
An example of a measure might consist of test admistered under standard conditions containing the questions specified in the operaetion definition. |
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Term
| What is construct variability |
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Definition
| Is the tendency of an operation definition and the abstract property it represents to share meaning. For example, in an intelligence test, it makes sense to include questions that require reasoning. |
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Term
| what is perdictive validity |
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Definition
is the tendency of a operational definition to be related to other operational definitions of the same abstract property
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Term
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Definition
| is the tendency for a measure to produce the same result when it is used to measure the same things |
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Term
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Definition
| is the tendency for a measure to producedifferent results when measuring different things |
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Term
| define demand characteristics |
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Definition
| demand characteristics are aspects of an observation setting that cause people to behave as they think an observer wants or expects them to behave |
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Term
| define and explain how double blind observation may be used to solve the problems that demand characteristics bring about |
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Definition
| double blind are those whose true purpose are hidden from researchers as well as subjects |
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Term
| Define naturalistic observation and explain how it is used to limit the problem of demand characteristics |
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Definition
| Naturalistic observation is a method of gathering scientific knowledge by unobtrusively observing people in their natural environments |
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Term
| Define correlation coefficient and explain what correlation coefficients of 1.00 and -1.00 and 0 signify. |
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Definition
A correlation coefficient is a number that expresses the strength and direction of the covariance between two variables. The correlation coefficient is a number that is denoted by the letter “r” and may vary between -1 and +1. The sign of the correlation coefficient specifies the direction of the correlation. A positive correlation means that both variables either increase together or decrease together. A negative correlation is one in which the variable vary in opposite directions, i.e. when one increases in value, the other decreases in value.
r = +1 specifies a perfect positive correlation.
r = 0 specifies no correlation.
r = -1 specifies a perfect negative correlation |
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Term
| Discuss the distinction between correlation and causation, and explain how the third variable problem limits our ability to infer causation from correlational data. |
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Definition
If two variables X and Y are correlated, there are three possibilities.
A) X causes Y.
B) Y causes X.
C) A third variable causes both X and Y.
An important point is that correlation alone cannot distinguish between these possibilities and therefore cannot infer causality. |
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