8/1/24, 8:21 AM 1/5 PSY 370-Exam 1 Jeremiah Terms in this set (58) educational psychology -study of teaching an learning -explores research in: * effectiveness of teaching methods, students thought processes and memory, effects of environmental factors, development in several domains, group comparisons vs. individual development over time 3 reasons we need research/why common sense is wrong 1. Sometimes we are just wrong 2. Things are often more complex than we see them 3. Confirmation bias Sometimes we are just wrong -our senses deceive us -there is no evidence -Ex: spiral allusion Things are often more complex than they seem -we overgeneralize and over simplify things -deeper content and circumstances needed -Why? * limited mental resources (attention) and we can only pay attention to so much * different perspectives / we have different backgrounds, families, interests, genetics, etc. Confirmation Bias -seeking only evidence that supports our beliefs and ignoring evidence that contradicts those beliefs -seeing what you want or expect to see -we do it without realizing (natural tendency --brain shortcuts to make judgments) -Ex: the Full moon causes crazy behaviors, superstitions, learning styles self-fulfilling prophecies -beliefs about how a person will behave that actually make the expected behavior more likely What can we do to reduce the occurrence and impact of our own biases and mental limitations? 1. Admit you have a problem 2. Seek out other perspectives (avoid echo chambers) 3. Practice explaining other views 4. Rely on quality evidence/info *lateral reading (multiple sources) *CRAAP Test *Research PSY 370-Exam 1 8/1/24, 8:21 AM PSY 370-Exam 1 https://quizlet.com/487626963/psy -370-exam -1-flash -cards/ 2/5 Why research is better than common sense? 1. systematic, planned, focused (no hind sight) 2. Replicated/repeatable studies 3. Larger, more diverse samples 4. Expertly reviewed/critiqued 5. more objective (though there is no perfect study--other factors, biases) Research and funding -before funding is given to schools/programs, effectiveness needs to be shown -research determines effectiveness -new programs receiving federal funds must have scientific evidence (NCLB and Race to the Top) Sample -a smaller group within a population -studying the entire population would be inefficient, if not impossible -Ex: population= all college students, sample = college students from UWL Convenience sample -using people nearby/easy access -problem = biased random selection -ideal -each person in population has an equal chance of being in sample -representative of entire population -produces generalization results Qualitative data -descriptions verbally or written -Ex: different types of ways kids fight, personal statement -Pros: measures richer info, gives deeper detail -Cons: Subjective, broad, takes longer Quantitative data -numbers -Ex: number of times kids fight -Pros: more objective, less bias, easier -Cons: only measured so much, not all things can be put into numbers Data Collection Techniques 1. self report 2. performance assessment 3. behavioral observation 4. physiological measurements Self report -ppts give info to questions asked -Pros: easy, fast, lots of info -Cons: bias, lies/deceit, poor ppt judgment, subjective Performance Assessment -researcher makes and watches ppts do something (ex: tells them to fix a car to test mechanic ability) -Pros: More objective -Cons: not always well designed or equitable Behavioral Observation -naturalistic= in natural habitat *Pros: real life example *Cons: observer bias, no control -laboratory = bring into to lab to test *Pros: control more variables *Cons: reactance (hawthorn effect), observer bias Physiological measure -physical: BP, HR, bodily fluid, sweat, etc -Pros: reliable, objective, involuntary results -Cons: not always indicative of what they think (ex: sweat from being nervous vs sweat from lying)