RM Questions #2

What is a theory in psychology?

A theory is a set of logically dependable statements about some occurrence that (a) best summarizes existing empirical knowledge of the occurrence, (b) organizes this knowledge in the form of precise statements of relationships among variables (i.e. laws), (c) provides a tentative explanation for the occurrence, and (d) served as the basis for making predictions about behavior. It is always a working truth, always subject to change depending on the outcome of the empirical study. (95)

Why is deception sometimes used in psychological research?

Deception is used when the researcher and the IRB agree that there is no other way to do the study. They agree that using deception is the only way to be able to get a natural reaction from the participants. One example is in the eyewitness study. Had the participant know what the study was really about they would have spent their time studying the other person to identify them instead of doing the problems. For both of these the participant would be informed that they could leave at anytime during the study.

Productivity (of a theory)

Good theories advances knowledge by generating a great deal of research

What are pilot studies and what purpose do they serve?

Pilot studies are trial runs of studies. This enables researchers to revise and refine into a tighter study.

Use the Gibson visual cliff study to illustrate why psychologists sometimes use nonhuman species as research subjects.

In order to know if depth perception is innate the babies would need to be raised in complete visual isolation, which is not feasible. Using animals is feasible in that the isolation would be shorter due to the fact that they are able to move around in their environment quicker, sometime with in minutes after they are born.

What are the attributes of good theories?

Productivity Falsification Parsimony

How can the use of deception be reconciled with the concept of informed consent?

The most common form of deception is in not telling the participant all of the details at the beginning of the study. When the participant is done with the study they would go through a debriefing. During debriefing the participant would be told how they had been deceived and the real purpose of the study. Another for would be to let the participants know, before the study, that they might be deceived at some point during the study and give no specifics. They participant would begin the study knowing that they will be lied to at some point during the study. When the participant is done with the study they would go through a debriefing. During debriefing the participant would be told how they had been deceived and the real purpose of the study.

Palsimony (of a theory)

Theories include a minimum amount of construct and assumptions that are necessary to explain the occurrence adequately and predict future research outcomes

Falsification (of a theory)

Theories that are resistant to falsification are accepted as possible true

Field advantages

• The Environment resembles real life • Conditions on the field cannot be duplicate in a lab • Mostly Applied research, but some basic research

Lab disadvantages

• Artificial • May over simplify a concept • Far removed from the everyday life • Basic research

Field disadvantages

• Hard to control for variables • Hard to control the environment • Hard to follow ethics codes (consent, debriefing and may be an invasion of privacy)

Arguments Against Non-human species in research:

• Human don't have the right to consider themselves superior to other species • Animals should have the basic rights humans, such as privacy, autonomy, & freedom from harm • Humans are responsible for protecting them, not hurting them • Reduce unnecessary pain to the animal • Needlessly repetitive • Concern with trivial problems that have no practical human benefit

Arguments FOR Non-human species in research:

• Methodology, environment, genetic, and developmental histories are easily controlled • Procedures that could not be used with humans can be used on animals with safeguards in place. • Benefits to the animals themselves, as well as humans • Animal research is thought to be justified and necessary by psychology students and psychologists.

Lab advantages

• More control for researchers • Control variables, such as environment • Can study more systematically