PSYC-115 FA5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Falsifiability, Natural Science, Psych
13 Jun 2018
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Friday January 19, 2017
Lecture 2- Defining Psychology: “Pathways to behavior”
(start on slide 18)
-natural phenomena:
●Careful and objective description of natural phenomena
●Construction of models that organize these natural phenomena
●Development of encompassing theories that unify and integrate the natural phenomena
under question (allows explanations and predictions)
●Induction is building up to a theory; once you have the theory you deduct down to a
prediction
-work (and outcomes) subject to falsifiability
●Generating hypothesis based on our models and theories
●Testing our hypothesis by careful experimentation
○Accept-consistent with model/theory (does not mean theory is true)
○Reject- falsifies model/theory
○Test must be subject to replication and evaluation
○Hypotheses are falsifiable, not verifiable
-What are the natural phenomena analyzed in Psych?
●Behavior- exam question
-What are the specific procedures …..
-Natural science and social science psychologists can look at and study the same phenomena just
from different angles.
-The natural science perspective in Psych has its focus based in the traditional life and physical
sciences. As such, the focus is on the environmental, biological, chemical, and genetic
underpinnings of the issues.
-This focus has long and deep roots, and where we are today makes sense in the context of this
history.
-While there are roots, note that its evolution is not a straight and sure line,..
-Historical roots:
Caveat: tenets-
● mind vs body(mind vs brain OR spirit/soul vs brain)
○Relative contribution to behavior
○Similarities and differences
●free will vs determinism
○Role of choice in behavior
○Role of natural laws
-History lesson:
●Philosophy (1500-1800): Body & Determinism; knowledge and animal/human behaviors
Document Summary
Lecture 2- defining psychology: pathways to behavior (start on slide 18) Careful and objective description of natural phenomena. Construction of models that organize these natural phenomena. Development of encompassing theories that unify and integrate the natural phenomena under question (allows explanations and predictions) Induction is building up to a theory; once you have the theory you deduct down to a prediction. Generating hypothesis based on our models and theories. Accept-consistent with model/theory (does not mean theory is true) Test must be subject to replication and evaluation. Natural science and social science psychologists can look at and study the same phenomena just from different angles. The natural science perspective in psych has its focus based in the traditional life and physical sciences. As such, the focus is on the environmental, biological, chemical, and genetic underpinnings of the issues. This focus has long and deep roots, and where we are today makes sense in the context of this history.
