What are the primary goals of psychological enquiry?

The primary goals of psychological enquiry are description, prediction, explanation, control of behavior, and application of knowledge.

In psychological research, accurate descriptions of behaviors help to distinguish them from ___ behaviors.

Other

True or False: Prediction in psychological enquiry involves forecasting behaviors based on relationships established between behaviors and events.

True

Explain how psychological enquiry seeks to control behaviors.

Psychological enquiry seeks to control behaviors by understanding their causes and making changes to antecedent conditions, which can lead to modifications in behavior. This is exemplified by psychological interventions like therapy.

Fill in the blanks: The goal of explanation in psychological enquiry is to identify the ___ factors influencing behaviors.

Causal

What are the key steps involved in conducting scientific research?

The key steps include conceptualizing a problem, collecting data, drawing conclusions, and revising research conclusions.

___ is the first step in the scientific research process.

Conceptualizing a Problem

True or False: Scientific research focuses only on subjective experiences and personal feelings.

False. Scientific research emphasizes observable and measurable behavior and excludes personal feelings and experiences.

Which paradigm of research emphasizes methods similar to those used in physical sciences?

The Alternative Paradigm of Research.

The process of analyzing data collected during research typically involves using ___ methods.

Statistical

Fill in the blank: The scientific method aims to explore events or phenomena in a ___ manner.

Testable

Explain how objectivity is maintained in scientific research.

Objectivity is maintained when independent studies by different researchers yield similar conclusions, ensuring that results are not biased by personal beliefs.

The iterative nature of scientific research means researchers must continually evaluate and ___ their findings.

Revise

What role does psychological research play in improving people's lives?

Psychological research uses practices like yoga and meditation to reduce stress, enhance well-being, and contributes to the development of new theories.

True or False: Collecting data is the last step in the scientific research process.

False. Collecting data is the second step; it follows conceptualizing a problem and precedes drawing conclusions.

Psychological data are influenced by ___ and ___ when behavior occurs.

Context and time

What is the significance of data in psychology?

Data form an important input in psychological enquiry, allowing researchers to verify or falsify ideas and approximating reality.

True or False: Data in psychology are independent entities that accurately represent reality on their own.

False: Data are not independent; they are influenced by context, method, and the individuals involved.

What types of information do psychologists collect in their research?

Psychologists collect information related to individuals' covert or overt behavior, subjective experiences, and mental processes.

Fill in the blank: The method of data collection can influence the ___ and ___ of the data.

Nature and quality

True or False: The subjective interpretation of reality is not important in psychological research.

False: The subjective interpretation of reality is crucial as it highlights personal meanings and contexts.

Explain why people behave differently in various situations.

People's behavior can vary based on factors such as being alone or in a group, and the specific context of the environment, like being at home versus in an office.

What are the four main types of demographic information collected in psychological research?

Name, age, gender, and marital status.

Fill in the blank: The observational method in psychology involves three key processes: selection, recording, and ___.

Analysis of data.