Scientific Method and Research Principles

The video tutorial by Habiba covers the scientific method used in psychological research. It explains the characteristics of scientific research, including replicability, precision, falsifiability, and parsimony. Each characteristic is discussed in detail with examples, highlighting their importance in conducting reliable and valid research. The tutorial emphasizes the need for clear hypotheses, operational definitions, and simple explanations to ensure effective research outcomes.

What is the primary purpose of the scientific method in research?

• To ensure all research is subjective

• To create complex theories

• To standardize observations and data collection

• To eliminate all variables

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the scientific method?

• Precision

• Subjectivity

• Replicability

• Falsifiability

Why is replicability important in scientific research?

• It allows for the creation of new variables

• It ensures that research findings can be verified by others

• It makes research more complex

• It eliminates the need for a hypothesis

What is a good theory expected to do?

• Complicate the research process

• Avoid making predictions

• Organize observations logically

• Ignore previous research

How do researchers test a hypothesis?

• By avoiding data collection

• By making assumptions

• By using research techniques like experiments and surveys

• By ignoring previous studies

What is the role of operational definitions in research?

• To create new theories

• To define variables precisely for measurement

• To eliminate the need for data collection

• To make research more subjective

What does it mean for a hypothesis to be falsifiable?

• It can be proven false

• It can be proven true

• It cannot be tested

• It is always accepted

What is the principle of parsimony also known as?

• Occam's Razor

• Newton's Law

• Einstein's Theory

• Darwin's Principle

Why should researchers avoid complex theories without evidence?

• They are always incorrect

• They are difficult to understand

• They are too simple

• They lack parsimony

What is the simplest explanation for a student falling asleep in class according to parsimony?

• The teacher sprays nerve gas

• The student is under a spell

• The student finds the class boring

• The student is allergic to the classroom