100013 Lecture 1: The scientific method in psychology

• School: UWS
• Department: University of Western Sydney
• Course: 100013
• Professor: Lee Shepherd

Document Summary

Topic 1 - the scientific method in psychology (1) the many possible circumstances concurrent to, or preceding a behaviour. Science involves establishing relationships between an event and a set of preceding circumstances: the scientific method, objectivity, confirmation of findings (e. g. replication, self-correction (ability to alter conclusions, control (a focus of this lecture series) The experimental method: when we suspect a relationship between events, we attempt to examine such a relationship by manipulating the preceding circumstances and observing the change in the final event. Systematically examining all circumstances influencing speed is the distinguishing feature of the scientific method. It is a method of understanding reality which everyone indulges in, to some extent, throughout life: there are often too many preceding circumstances so the experimental method takes a couple (max) and focusses on them. Independent variables: are the presumes circumstances manipulated to observe the effect on behaviour, they are independent of the behaviour, dependant variables, this is the behaviour of the participant.