Chapter 1 Psychology Is a Way of Thinking Vocabulary 1 Evidence Based Treatments 6 Falsifiability 7 Parsimony 2 Empiricism 3 Theory 4 Hypothesis 5 Data A psychotherapy technique whose effectiveness has been supported A feature of a scientific theory in which it is possible to collect data that will prove A set of observations representing the values of some variable collected from one or more A statement or set of statements that describes general principles about how variables The use of verifiable evidence as the basis for conclusions collecting data A statement about the specific relationship between a study s variables that the by empirical research systematically and using it to develop support or challenge a theory relate to one another researcher expects to observe if a theory is accurate research studies the theory wrong In the context of investigating a claim the simplest explanation of a pattern of data the best explanation that requires making the fewest exceptions or qualifications the proportion of studies that is consistent with a theory for direct application to practical problems test solutions to real world problems academic discipline or sub discipline written for a scholarly audience a general audience A monthly or quarterly periodical containing peer reviewed articles on a specific Research whose goal is to find a solution to a particular real world problem A conclusion drawn from reviewing scientific literature and considering News and commentary published or broadcast in the popular media and produced for The degree to which a theory provides the simplest explanation of some phenomenon Research whose goal is to enhance the general body of knowledge without regard Research that uses knowledge derived from basic research to develop and 12 Journal 13 Journalism 9 Applied Research 10 Basic Research 8 Weight of the evidence 11 Translational Research Questions 1 How do the responsibilities of being a good research producer compare to those of being a good research consumer Research Producer Consumer of Research Need to be able to develop research method skills to work in research laboratories and discover new knowledge Need to be able to find read and evaluate the research behind important policies therapies and workplace decisions 2 How does the example of facilitated communication demonstrate that both consumers and producers of research are prone to making mistakes when they don t pay attention to methodology One behavior that led some researchers to doubt FC was that clients were observed to type with one finger while looking away from the keyboard Such observations meant that the facilitators not the clients were probably creating the typed words 3 What are the four different scientific cycles Understand the relevant examples discussed in the book Ex How did Harry Harlow use the theory data cycle to examine the contact comfort theory vs the cupboard theory of attachment A Theory leads researchers to pose particular Research questions which lead to an appropriate Research design in the context of the design researchers formulate Hypothesis researchers then collect and analyze Data which feed back into the cycle 4 How is a theory different from a hypothesis A statement or set of statements that describes general principles about how variables Theory relate to one another researcher expects to observe if a theory is accurate 5 What criteria determine if a theory is a GOOD theory Hypothesis A statement about the specific relationship between a study s variables that the Supported by data Are falsifiable Are parsimonious 6 How does translational research provide a bridge between basic and applied research Translational Research and test solutions to real world problems Research that uses knowledge derived from basic research to develop 7 What does it mean for journals to be peer reviewed What does this process entail When an editor receives a manuscript the editor sends it to three or four experts on the subject The experts tell the editor about the manuscript s virtues and flaws and the editor decides whether the paper deserves to be published in the journal They comment n how interesting the work is how novel it is how well the research was done and how clear the results are 8 What are the big issues related to making sure that the Journal to Journalism cycle get things right Journalists need to report on the most important scientific stories Journalists must describe the research accurately Check Your Understandings 1 Explain what the consumer of research and producer of research roles have in common and describe how they differ Consumer of Research Producer of Research Need to be able to find read and evaluate the research behind important policies therapies and workplace decisions Need to be able to develop research method skills to work in research laboratories and discover new knowledge Both Share a commitment to the practice of empiricism 2 What kinds of jobs would use consumer of research skills What kinds of jobs would use Producer of research skills Consumer of Research Family therapists Teachers Entrepreneurs Guidance counselors Police officers Producer of Research Studying brain anatomy Observing the behavior of pigeons or monkeys Administering personality questionnaires Observing children in a school setting Analyzing data 3 What happens to a theory when the data do not support the theory s hypotheses What happens to a theory when the data do support the theory s hypothesis not support hypothesis Data does The data will challenge the theory Indicates that the theory needs to be revised Data does support the hypothesis The data may support the theory and strengthen the researcher s confidence in the theory 4 Explain the difference between basic research and applied research and describe how the two interact Basic Research Is not intended to address a specific practical problem the goal is to enhance the general body of knowledge Researchers might want to understand the structure of the visual system the capacity of the human memory the motivations of a depressed person or the limitations of the infant attachment system Do not just gather facts at random Applied Research Done with a practical problem in mind the researchers hope their findings will be directly applied to the solution of that problem in a particular real world context Study may ask for example if a school s district s new method of teaching mathematics is working better than the
View Full Document
Unlocking...