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Learning Objectives
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These questions are taken from the directed questions found in the margins of the chapter. After reading the chapter, you should be able to answer these questions:

2.1 Describe the three primary attitudes associated with scientific inquiry.

2.2 Using Darley and Latané's research, illustrate the five steps of the scientific inquiry.

2.3 Explain the major drawbacks of hindsight understanding.

2.4 List the characteristics of a good theory.

2.5 Describe the importance of operational definitions, and recognise examples of them.

2.6 Identify the major ethical issues in human and animal research.

2.7 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of descriptive research.

2.8 Explain the importance of random sampling when conducting survey research.

2.9 Describe the purpose and methods of correlational research.

2.10 Explain why scientists are unable to draw causal conclusions from correlational research.

2.11 Describe and interpret correlation coefficients and scatterplots, and explain how correlational research can be used to predict behaviour.

2.12 Describe the characteristics of an experiment, and explain how experiments can be used to investigate causal relations among variables.

2.13 Define and differentiate between independent and dependent variables.

2.14 Describe how random assignment and counterbalancing are used in designing an experiment.

2.15 Explain the process of using two independent variables in the same experiment.

2.16 Define internal validity and explain how it is threatened by confounding variables, demand characteristics, placebo effects,and experimenter expectancy.

2.17 Explain how placebo effects and experimenter expectancy effects can be minimised.

2.18 Define external validity, and explain why replication is important.

2.19 Indicate three things done by critical consumers of statistics.

2.20 List three methods of central tendency and two measures of variability.

2.21 Explain the purpose of inferential statistics, and describe statistical significance.

2.22 Explain the purpose of meta-analysis.

2.23 Explain how critical thinking skills can be used to evaluate claims made in everyday life.







Passer, PsychologyOnline Learning Center

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