[CAS PS 101] - Final Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam (151 pages long!)

• School: Boston University
• Department: Psychological & Brain Sciences
• Course: CAS PS 101
• Professor: Joseph Harris

Document Summary

Results from accumulation of findings of individual studies. Science helps build explanations that are consistent and predictive rather than conflicting and postdictive (hindsight) Science is based on knowledge of facts developing theories testing hypotheses public and repeatable procedures. Experimental strategies for inferring cause and effect relationships among variables. Variables factors that can vary in ways that can be observed, measured, and verified (independent versus dependent) Operational definition precise description of how the variables will be measured. Does not predict what may influence the facts. Example: measure the percentage of new students from out-of- state each year since 1980. Researchers directly observe and record behavior rather than relying on subject descriptions. In naturalistic observation researcher records behavior as it occurs naturally. Generally used to investigate rare, unusual, or extreme conditions. Designed to investigate opinions, behaviors, or characteristics of a particular group. Population large (potentially infinite) group represented by the sample. Representative sample closely parallels the population on relevant characteristics.