PSYCH211 Lecture 3: Theories and Methods
1 Mar 2017
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Without theories: we would be describing, not explaining. You cannot make predictions and cannot understand the meaning behind the finding. Might want to think all theories are true; but theories actually conflict with each other and contradict in different ways. Theories are revised over time, and new theories are developed all the time. 3 major theories in developmental psychology: piaget theory (1896 1980) Swiss, wrote first article at age 10/11 on albino sparrow, and studied mollusks in his teens. Many of his studies are on his own children. Observations 63: he observed his 10-month old daughter making noises with her nose: you always read that piaget is apparently wrong, also made unusual observations about his kids, warning: what you read may be wrong. Gardner: says piaget is wrong, but still study piaget since he is believed to be the giant of the field and his ideas stick around.
