PSYCH101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Demand Characteristics, Psy, Stim

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH101
• Professor: Paul Wehr

Document Summary

Perhaps the single most important aspect of scientific research is that it strives for objectiv- ity. Objectivity assumes that certain facts about the world can be observed and tested independently from the indi- vidual who describes them (e. g. , the scientist). Every- one not just the experts should be able to agree on these facts given the same tools, the same methods, and the same context. Achieving objectivity is not a simple task, however. As soon as people observe an event, their interpreta- tion of it becomes subjective, meaning that their knowl- edge of the event is shaped by prior beliefs, expectations, experiences, and even their mood. A scientific, objective approach to answering questions differs greatly from a subjective one. Most individuals tend to regard a scien- tific approach as one that is rigorous and demands proof. Although these are not inaccurate characterizations of scientific thinking and research, there is more to explore.