PSYO 1021 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Caffeine, Psychology Today, Scientific Method
27 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Lecture 2
Lecture 2 – the nature of science
Science is about testing intuitive assumptions regarding how the world works. Scientist made
important discoveries because they were open to suprising and unexpected results.
Common sense and logic
Science is more than common sense, logic and observation. These will provide knowledge but
they have limitations.
Common sense is useful in everyday life in ways like knowing not to go poke a bear. Problems
with science:
- Common sense can’t answer complicated science questions (nature-nurture debate).
- Insight bias: ‘I knew it all along phenomenon’ but you weren’t sure before you found out
Logic is also a powerful tool, problems:
- It tells us how the world should work but not how it actually does work. Ex: Aristote
argues that heavier object falls faster based on logic. Believed for over 2000 years until
Galileo tested this theory with sciences and it was the opposite of what logic made it
seem. Logic can fool us, need scientific proof, a study.
Limits of observation
Science also relies on observation, but observations can be wrong. Problems :
- Varies from person to person
- Generalization: what we witnessed in one situation applies to all. Ex: going to a new
country and talking to 2 rude people. Assuming to quickly
Scientific principles in psychology
Studies: subject as the arts (humanity, literature) study as well: relationship, friends… the
content makes people think it’s not a science.
Method: of the natural sciences (see below)
Science is (definition of science)
1. Cumulative
What we know about psychology today has been built upon what we knew 30 years ago,
based on previous studies, always advancing. More complete today than 30 year ago =
cumulative.
Vs literature: it’s not better than the past (subjective – based on your opinion)
2. Process more than a product
High school: you are thought that there’s facts in sciences (just for you to understand)
Reality: It’s not a set of answers. Science is always changing, relativetely reliable, but always
imperfect. Always open to interpretations.
[Type here] [Type here] [Type here]
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Science is about testing intuitive assumptions regarding how the world works. Scientist made important discoveries because they were open to suprising and unexpected results. Science is more than common sense, logic and observation. These will provide knowledge but they have limitations. Common sense is useful in everyday life in ways like knowing not to go poke a bear. Common sense can"t answer complicated science questions (nature-nurture debate). Insight bias: i knew it all along phenomenon" but you weren"t sure before you found out. It tells us how the world should work but not how it actually does work. Ex: aristote argues that heavier object falls faster based on logic. Galileo tested this theory with sciences and it was the opposite of what logic made it seem. Logic can fool us, need scientific proof, a study. Science also relies on observation, but observations can be wrong. Generalization: what we witnessed in one situation applies to all.
