How is falsifiability used in psychological science? Define and explain.
What will be an ideal response?
Ans: Answers vary
Falsification of explanations of behavior advances psychological science much more than supporting explanations (Platt, 1964). Whenever researchers can show that an accepted explanation is not supported, it changes the direction of investigation in an area of research and moves psychological science forward in gaining new knowledge about behavior. Making predictions about the results they will find in their studies helps researchers contribute to the testability of their observations. With clear predictions made before a study is conducted, researchers can design good tests of their ideas about behavior and help them avoid falling prey to the confirmation bias in believing the results are consistent with their ideas regardless of how they turn out.
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A judge hears four cases involving civil commitment. Based on the criteria for civil commitment, which case is likely to be denied by the judge (i.e., the person will not be sent to a psychiatric facility involuntarily)?
a. A man is so terrified of auditory hallucinations that he is likely to lose control and kill himself. b. A delusional woman is likely to kill her husband in the next several days. c. A starving psychotic man has no permanent residence and no way to stay out of subzero temperatures at night. d. A young married woman is seriously depressed after giving birth.
If a person has a deficiency in a red or green cone, what will he be able to see?
a) Everything will appear generally dull and gray. b) He will see only blues and yellows and shades of gray. c) He will tend to confuse red/green with blue/yellow. d) Everything will appear gray in the middle with blue and yellow on the perimeter.
How do researchers believe leisure activities bring people pleasure?
A. They allow us time to reflect on the goals we have achieved. B. They act as a recharging process. C. They are equivalent to being in a meditative state. D. They provide a social network and allow for the testing of talents and skills.
According to the textbook:
a. women are on average more empathic than men and more willing to help others b. women are on average less empathic than men, and are less willing to help others c. there is no clear evidence that women are any more empathic than men d. men seem more willing than women to help highly dependent people e. men typically describe themselves as being more empathic than women