PSYC 302: Final Exam Review UPDATED ACTUAL Questions
and CORRECT Answers
Research producers conducting research for coursework, graduate school, lab work, etc.
Research consumers reading research findings (for psych courses, future careers, online consumption)
Benefits of being a good consumer - job training
- schoolwork
- critical thinking
- can detect untrue research findings
Theory-Data Cycle scientists collect data to test, change, or update their theories
Theories are... supported by data, falsifiable, have parsimony, don't prove anything
Basic research research that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base
Translational research a dynamic bridge between basic and applied research
Applied research scientific study that aims to solve practical problems; research in real world
contexts
Why is research better than experience? - experience doesn't have a control group
- experience is confounded
Confound alternative explanation, outside factor influencing a study
Comparison group enables us to compare what would happen both with and without the thing we
are interested in
, Availability heuristic making a decision based on the answer that most easily comes to mind
Confirmation bias a tendency to search for information that confirms one's preconceptions
Bias blind spot the belief that we are unlikely to fall prey to other biases
Present/present bias The tendency to rely only on what is present and ignore what is absent when
evaluating the evidence for a conclusion.
Probabilistic Describing the empirical method, stating that science is intended to explain a
certain proportion (but not necessarily all) of the possible cases.
Three places that psychologists typically publish their 1. journal articles
research: 2. chapters in edited books
3. full length books
What is the most important source of research? Journal articles
Empirical journal articles report for the first time the results of an empirical research study
Review journal articles provide a summary of all the published studies that have been done in one
research area
Components of an empirical journal article 1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Method
4. Results
5. Discussion
6. References
Three claims in research 1. frequency claims
2. association claims
3. causal claims
Frequency claims describe a particular rate or degree of a single variable, involve only one
measured variable
Association claims argues that one level of a variable is likely to be associated with a particular level
of another variable, involve at least two measured variables
Causal claims argues that one of the variables is responsible for changing the other, one
measured variable and one manipulated variable
Making predictions based on associations - Some are useful because they help us make predictions
- The stronger the association between between the two variables, the more
accurate the prediction will be
- Both positive and negative associations can help us make predictions, but zero
associations cannot
What are the four validities in research? 1. construct validity
2. external validity
3. statistical validity
4. internal validity
and CORRECT Answers
Research producers conducting research for coursework, graduate school, lab work, etc.
Research consumers reading research findings (for psych courses, future careers, online consumption)
Benefits of being a good consumer - job training
- schoolwork
- critical thinking
- can detect untrue research findings
Theory-Data Cycle scientists collect data to test, change, or update their theories
Theories are... supported by data, falsifiable, have parsimony, don't prove anything
Basic research research that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base
Translational research a dynamic bridge between basic and applied research
Applied research scientific study that aims to solve practical problems; research in real world
contexts
Why is research better than experience? - experience doesn't have a control group
- experience is confounded
Confound alternative explanation, outside factor influencing a study
Comparison group enables us to compare what would happen both with and without the thing we
are interested in
, Availability heuristic making a decision based on the answer that most easily comes to mind
Confirmation bias a tendency to search for information that confirms one's preconceptions
Bias blind spot the belief that we are unlikely to fall prey to other biases
Present/present bias The tendency to rely only on what is present and ignore what is absent when
evaluating the evidence for a conclusion.
Probabilistic Describing the empirical method, stating that science is intended to explain a
certain proportion (but not necessarily all) of the possible cases.
Three places that psychologists typically publish their 1. journal articles
research: 2. chapters in edited books
3. full length books
What is the most important source of research? Journal articles
Empirical journal articles report for the first time the results of an empirical research study
Review journal articles provide a summary of all the published studies that have been done in one
research area
Components of an empirical journal article 1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Method
4. Results
5. Discussion
6. References
Three claims in research 1. frequency claims
2. association claims
3. causal claims
Frequency claims describe a particular rate or degree of a single variable, involve only one
measured variable
Association claims argues that one level of a variable is likely to be associated with a particular level
of another variable, involve at least two measured variables
Causal claims argues that one of the variables is responsible for changing the other, one
measured variable and one manipulated variable
Making predictions based on associations - Some are useful because they help us make predictions
- The stronger the association between between the two variables, the more
accurate the prediction will be
- Both positive and negative associations can help us make predictions, but zero
associations cannot
What are the four validities in research? 1. construct validity
2. external validity
3. statistical validity
4. internal validity
