PSYC 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Blind Experiment, Operational Definition, Construct Validity
9 Oct 2015
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Document Summary
Empiricism empiricism - the belief that accurate knowledge of the world requires observation of it. dogmatism - the tendency to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true, without consideration of evidence or the opinions of others (often related to the church) Empirical method: a set of rules and techniques for observation allows observers to avoid the illusions, mistakes, and erroneous conclusions that simple observation can produce use peer review systems, etc. Parsimony (aka) ockham"s razor - begin to explain phenomena using the simplest theory -- only complicate this theory if evidence demands it simplest explanation may differ depending on previous assumptions. Uniquely difficult due to our: complexity (biology, behavior, thought patterns) variability reactivity (humans will behave differently depending on where they are, who they are being tested by, etc. ) Operational definition: properties of behavior must be definite in measurable terms. Example: how to decide if someone is happy.
