PSYCH 242 Midterm Exam 1 Study Guide || errorless
answers 100%.
Systematic Empiricism correct answers The general scientific approach has three fundamental
features. The first is systematic empiricism. Science relies on observations. But not just any
observations, science relies on structured observations which is known as systematic empiricism.
Empirical Questions correct answers These are questions about the way the world actually is and,
therefore, can be answered by systematically observing it
Public Knowledge correct answers After asking their empirical questions, making their
systematic observations, and drawing their conclusions, scientists publish their work. This
usually means writing an article for publication in a professional journal, in which they put their
research question in the context of previous research, describe in detail the methods they used to
answer their question, and clearly present their results and conclusions.
Falsifiable correct answers the logical possibility that an assertion, hypothesis, or theory can be
shown to be false by an observation or experiment.
Characteristics of Pseudoscience correct answers fail to generate testable hypotheses or to
conduct objective tests of theory. There tends to be no advancement of knowledge in the field,
which is resistant to change.
involves terms that sound like scientific ideas, but the terms are not clearly defined. Often the
ideas violate known scientific principles.
involves looking for mysteries that have occurred rather than trying to generate and test
explanations for the phenomena.
Confirmation Bias correct answers the tendency to search for, interpret, focus on and remember
information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions. Confirmation bias occurs from the
direct influence of desire on beliefs
, Variable Definition correct answers a quantity or quality that varies across people or situations
Quantitative Variable correct answers a quantity, such as height, that is typically measured by
assigning a number to each individual.
Qualitative Variable correct answers a descriptive characteristic or attribute that cannot be
numerically ordered. *Examples are gender, eye color, and preferred sport*
Categorical Variable correct answers a quality, such as chosen major, and is typically measured
by assigning a category label to each individual (Psychology, English, Nursing, etc).
Operational correct answers a definition of the variable in terms of precisely how it is to be
measured. Most variables that researchers are interested in studying cannot be directly observed
or measured and this poses a problem because empiricism (observation) is at the heart of the
scientific method
Operationally Define a Variable correct answers involves taking an abstract construct like
depression that cannot be directly observed and transforming it into something that can be
directly observed and measured
Population correct answers In addition to identifying which variables to manipulate and measure,
and operationally defining those variables, researchers need to identify the population of interest.
Researchers in psychology are usually interested in drawing conclusions about some very large
group of people.
Sample correct answers a subset of a population of interest that is selected for study with the aim
of making inferences to the population. It is important to ensure that a sample is representative of
the larger population
Correlational Relationships correct answers a relationship between two or more variables (such
as ice cream consumption and crime), but this relationship does not necessarily imply cause and
answers 100%.
Systematic Empiricism correct answers The general scientific approach has three fundamental
features. The first is systematic empiricism. Science relies on observations. But not just any
observations, science relies on structured observations which is known as systematic empiricism.
Empirical Questions correct answers These are questions about the way the world actually is and,
therefore, can be answered by systematically observing it
Public Knowledge correct answers After asking their empirical questions, making their
systematic observations, and drawing their conclusions, scientists publish their work. This
usually means writing an article for publication in a professional journal, in which they put their
research question in the context of previous research, describe in detail the methods they used to
answer their question, and clearly present their results and conclusions.
Falsifiable correct answers the logical possibility that an assertion, hypothesis, or theory can be
shown to be false by an observation or experiment.
Characteristics of Pseudoscience correct answers fail to generate testable hypotheses or to
conduct objective tests of theory. There tends to be no advancement of knowledge in the field,
which is resistant to change.
involves terms that sound like scientific ideas, but the terms are not clearly defined. Often the
ideas violate known scientific principles.
involves looking for mysteries that have occurred rather than trying to generate and test
explanations for the phenomena.
Confirmation Bias correct answers the tendency to search for, interpret, focus on and remember
information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions. Confirmation bias occurs from the
direct influence of desire on beliefs
, Variable Definition correct answers a quantity or quality that varies across people or situations
Quantitative Variable correct answers a quantity, such as height, that is typically measured by
assigning a number to each individual.
Qualitative Variable correct answers a descriptive characteristic or attribute that cannot be
numerically ordered. *Examples are gender, eye color, and preferred sport*
Categorical Variable correct answers a quality, such as chosen major, and is typically measured
by assigning a category label to each individual (Psychology, English, Nursing, etc).
Operational correct answers a definition of the variable in terms of precisely how it is to be
measured. Most variables that researchers are interested in studying cannot be directly observed
or measured and this poses a problem because empiricism (observation) is at the heart of the
scientific method
Operationally Define a Variable correct answers involves taking an abstract construct like
depression that cannot be directly observed and transforming it into something that can be
directly observed and measured
Population correct answers In addition to identifying which variables to manipulate and measure,
and operationally defining those variables, researchers need to identify the population of interest.
Researchers in psychology are usually interested in drawing conclusions about some very large
group of people.
Sample correct answers a subset of a population of interest that is selected for study with the aim
of making inferences to the population. It is important to ensure that a sample is representative of
the larger population
Correlational Relationships correct answers a relationship between two or more variables (such
as ice cream consumption and crime), but this relationship does not necessarily imply cause and
