PS101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Operational Definition, Dependent And Independent Variables, Random Assignment
Document Summary
Goals of the scientific enterprise: measurement and description: develop a measurement technique to make it possible to describe behaviour clearly, understand and prediction: when you understand events, you can explain the reasons for their occurrences. A hypothesis is a statement about the relationship between two or more variables. Variables are any measurable conditions, events, characteristics or behaviours that are controlled or observed in a study: application and control: once scientists understand a phenomenon, they can often exert more control over it. A theory is a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations. Findings that support hypotheses increase confidence in theories, and vice versa. Theory (coherent network of explanatory ideas) -> hypotheses (specific predictions derived from the theory) -> empirical research (conduct study to test hypotheses) Steps in a scientific investigation: formulate a testable hypothesis: translate a theory or idea into a testable hypothesis. Advantages of scientific approach: clarity in communication, relative intolerance of error.
