Chapter 1. Scientific Method Infographic Activity

Infographic

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Scientific American: Psychology
Infographic Activity 1.3: The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

Psychologists use the scientific method to conduct research. The scientific method allows researchers to collect empirical (objective) evidence by following a sequence of carefully executed steps. In this infographic, you can trace the steps taken in an actual research project performed by two psychologists who were interested in the effect of “counting your blessings” (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). Notice that the process is cyclical in nature. Answering one research question often leads researchers to develop additional questions, and the process begins again.

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1.1 Quiz

1. Which of the following terms is the best synonym for the word “empirical?”

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D.

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2. The scientific method consists of several steps that must progress in a logical sequence. The first step in that sequence is clearly:

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3. Mark is conducting a research study in which he has hypothesized that people will have greater difficulty running a distance of one-quarter of a mile after they are exposed to second-hand smoke for 5 minutes. He has enlisted the participation of several people, and has divided them up into two groups. He has gathered data from how well people ran the quarter-mile distance whether they were or were not exposed to the second hand smoke. How will he now be able to determine if his hypothesis was correct?

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4. Why do your authors describe the scientific method as being a “cyclical” process?

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5. Which of the following is not part of the process of developing a hypothesis?

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6. Jared has been trying to come up with a research question on which he will base his doctoral dissertation for several weeks, but has been unsuccessful. He goes to his advisor, Dr. Reggiera, to ask for advice about getting over this hurdle. Dr. Reggiera tells him that there are several things he can do to help determine what his research question will be. They will likely include all but which of the following ideas?

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Correct.
Incorrect.

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