PSYC 300 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Spurious Relationship, Statistical Inference, Falsifiability

• School: University of Maryland
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 300
• Professor: Richard Yi

Document Summary

Observing a phenomenon: identify variables that appear important. Formulating tentative explanations: develop hypothesis, tentative statement, about relationship among variables identified. Further observing and experimenting: observations of behavior of interest. Refining and retesting explanations: refine hypothesis and subject to further exploration. Identify participants or subjects how many participants, characteristics, selection method, ethical treatment: select a research strategy relative importance of internal and external validity. Basic research conducted to evaluate theories or empirical positions: goal is to acquire information about phenomenon, little emphasis on application to real world problems. Applied research evaluates real world problem: hypothesis may come from theory but goal is to apply results to real world. Ideas from social issues applied research, every day observation. Theory, prior research, modifying or adding to it. Snapshot of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors at given place and time. Research hypothesis: specific, testable research question, relationship b/w variables, correlational or experimental, falsifiable o.