PSY100H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Social Comparison Theory, Operational Definition, Falsifiability

• School: UTSG
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY100H1
• Professor: Ashley Waggoner Denton

Document Summary

A scientific theory generally is used to explain the relationship between two or more variables. Any good psychological theory is going to be both explanatory and predictive/ generative. What a theory will do is that it will take all these different results from a wide range of studies conducted and the theory provides an explanation for all these different findings. It serves as an umbrella that brings together these discrete findings. Based on research that supports this particular theory. Based on the theory, we can make new connections and new hypotheses. If the theory is true, we can predict certain circumstances. We can make novel hypotheses based on existing theories. It has to be possible that you will find evidence make an observation that will disprove the theory and this is because of old school" theories such as freudian theories. Freudian theory for example is not a scientific theory as it is not falsifiable.