0.3 The Scientific Method Steps, Uses, and Key Terms

What is the first step in the scientific method?

• Report the Results

• Make an Observation

• Ask a Question

• Test Your Hypothesis

What is a hypothesis?

• A statistical analysis of data

• An educated guess about the relationship between variables

• A review of existing literature

• A detailed record of a study

Which of the following is NOT a type of descriptive research?

• Case studies

• Experimental research

• Correlation studies

• Naturalistic observation

What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?

• To analyze the data

• To receive the treatment

• To manipulate the independent variable

• To serve as a baseline for comparison

What does it mean if results are statistically significant?

• The results are due to chance

• The results are unlikely to be due to chance

• The hypothesis is proven true

• The experiment was not useful

What is the final step in the scientific method?

• Make an Observation

• Ask a Question

• Test Your Hypothesis

• Report the Results

What is an operational definition?

• A full description of how variables are defined and measured

• A review of existing literature

• A brief history of previous research

• A statistical analysis of data

What is the goal of psychological studies?

• To describe, explain, predict, and influence behaviors

• To review existing literature

• To manipulate variables

• To create new variables

What is falsifiability?

• The ability to measure variables

• The ability to prove a hypothesis true

• The ability to collect data

• The ability to prove a hypothesis false

What is the purpose of a literature review?

• To collect data

• To report results

• To test a hypothesis

• To gain background information on a topic