PSY1HPM Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Jane Goodall, The Control Group, Naturalistic Observation
30 Jun 2018
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HPM Lecture 10 – Methodological Foundations (1)
A theory?
A coherent group of general propositions that enable a systematic description of phenomena within a particular
domain(and possibly explanation and even prediction)
Theories are according to Popper…”Nets to catch what we call ‘the world’, to rationalise, to explain, and to master it”
A good theory produces a wide variety of testable hypotheses
Unexpected Findings can be valuable
Many significant scientific findings are the result of serendipity: Late 1950s: Physiologists Wiesel & Hubel
hypothesized certain brain cells in cats would respond when cats looked at dots on slides
After much effort they were not getting the expected results. When their projector jammed, the slide produced a
visual “edge” on the screen, causing marked activation
They discovered that the cells respond to lines and edges, not dots…then they got the Nobel prize
The Study of Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes
oPsychology values empirical evidence
oPsychology employs critical thinking
oPsychology employs systematic research methods
Goals of Psychology
Description of behaviour using careful observations
Explanation involves identifying the cause(s) of behaviour
Prediction allows for specification of the conditions under which a behaviour will occur or not
Psychological knowledge can be used to assist changes in behaviour
What Research is and what it isn’t
What is research all about, anyway? Increasing our understanding of how and why we behave the way we do!!
Research is based on the work of others. Past research guides new research. Research is NOT copying the work of
others. Research can be replicated. Repeatability is a sign of credible science. Replication guides future research.
Research is generalisable. Research should apply to situations outside of the study setting.
Research is not done in intellectual isolation. It is based on some logical rationale, tied to theory. A theory organizes
information, helps explain past events and predicts new events. Research is “doable”. Good research questions can be
translated into projects that can be done!
Research is ongoing, generates new questions, is incremental, is apolitical and should have the betterment of society
as its ultimate goal
The process of research
Ask the question, Identify a need, Shouldn’t be study for its own sake, Identify the important factors, Clearly the
problem had not been fully investigated
We need to: Advance understanding with a problem that can be investigated, which is interesting and leads to more
questions
Formulating hypotheses, Should be in the form of “if… then” statements, Should be any objective extension of the
original question, Should be in a testable form
Collecting relevant information, Hypotheses posit a relationship between different factors, Data are collected, that
will confirm or refute the hypothesis. Hypotheses are testable, but not provable
Testing the hypothesis, Inferential statistics, Separate the effects of factors from the effect of chance Assign a
probability level to the obtained data
Working with hypothesis: If the hypothesis is confirmed; plan further research, If the hypothesis is refuted; try to
understand what other factors might be important
Reconsidering the theory: Theories can be modified, Modification of theory leads to new questions and new
hypotheses, leading to further investigations
Eventually paradigms will shift once enough disconfirmatory evidence has accrued
Different Types of Research
Different types of research are indicated, based upon: The nature of the question asked, The method used to answer
the question, The degree of precision of the method
Various research methods are commonly used in contemporary psychological science
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
A coherent group of general propositions that enable a systematic description of phenomena within a particular domain(and possibly explanation and even prediction) Theories are according to popper nets to catch what we call the world", to rationalise, to explain, and to master it . A good theory produces a wide variety of testable hypotheses. Many significant scientific findings are the result of serendipity: late 1950s: physiologists wiesel & hubel hypothesized certain brain cells in cats would respond when cats looked at dots on slides. After much effort they were not getting the expected results. When their projector jammed, the slide produced a visual edge on the screen, causing marked activation. They discovered that the cells respond to lines and edges, not dots then they got the nobel prize. Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes: psychology values empirical evidence, psychology employs critical thinking, psychology employs systematic research methods.
