![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Chapter Objectives (See related pages)
When you have studied this chapter, you should be able to:
Identify the components of the scientific method in psychology, including empirical evidence and operational definitions. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Distinguish between theories and hypotheses, and discuss the importance of using representative samples and replication in research. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Identify three descriptive methods used in psychology, and discuss how they are used. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Describe the correlational method, and distinguish between positive and negative correlation. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Explain the statement, "Correlation does not necessarily mean causation." |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Identify formal experiments, and describe when they are appropriately used. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Distinguish between a dependent and an independent variable; distinguish between a control group and an experimental group. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Discuss the importance of the placebo effect, blind experiments, and experimenter bias. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Explain the use of descriptive statistics and identify uses of statistics. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Describe how decisions are reached using data and the concept of statistical significance. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | List and define the five major ethical principles of research with human participants. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Discuss the use of nonhuman animals in research, and describe the ethical principles associated with these studies. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Describe the importance of representing human diversity in research. |
![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Describe the challenges involved in designing a formal experiment. |
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