PSYC 3600 - Exam 1: Ch. 1-2

Why is it important to understand research methods? Select all that apply.

• It will help you become a more skilled consumer of research.

• Many occupations require the use of research findings.

• Scientific research has become prominent in public policy & judicial decisions.

• Satisfy our curiosity about ourselves, our world, & those around us.

What is illusory correlation?

• people have illusions and it makes their correlations inaccurate

• when we focus on two events that stand out occur together

• when correlations are mistakenly focused on as the most important thing in research

__________ requires knowledge to come from observations.

• Empiricism

• Research

• Facts

Scientists recognize what about authority, intuition, and anecdotes as a "way of knowing"?

• These are the best ways to separate what is true and false.

• You should only rely on these methods when you are trying to determine cause and effect.

• They can be sources of ideas and all such ideas may be wrong.

Define pseudoscience

• the use of seemingly scientific terms and demonstrations to substantiate nonscientific claims

• the use of actual scientific terms that attempt to demonstrate claims but are not supported by other researchers

• the use of seemingly scientific terms and procedures that must wait to be reviewed

Scientific research on behavior has four general goals (select all that apply):

• Describe behavior

• Determine the causes of behavior

• To encourage specific behavior

• Predict behavior

• Understand or explain behavior

What is temporal order in inferring causation?

• when the cause is present, the effect occurs & vice versa

• the order of events in which the cause precedes the effect

• Other explanations must be eliminated

What is covariation of cause and effect in inferring causation?

• when the cause is present, the effect occurs & vice versa

• the order of events in which the cause precedes the effect

• Other explanations must be eliminated

What is elimination of alternative explanations in inferring causation?

• when the cause is present, the effect occurs & vice versa

• the order of events in which the cause precedes the effect

• Other explanations must be eliminated

________ research tries to answer fundamental questions about the nature of behavior.