CAS PS 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Falsifiability, Mental Chronometry, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

• School: Boston University
• Department: Psychological & Brain Sciences
• Course: CAS PS 101
• Professor: Robert Reinhart

Document Summary

Theory - well substantiated explanation that has been tested multiple times and has not / cannot yet be falsified > repeatedly verified. Hypothesis - a narrow explanation that is testable and falsifiable, but has not yet been put through such tests. Research - the collection of data aimed towards forming/testing a hypothesis. Can be applied to all classes of study. Reflects a cyclical relationship: theoretical perspective, develops a testable hypothesis or question, conducts research to test the hypothesis. A hypothesis is an observation that serves as the starting point of a test or question. While a prediction is a forecast of future events that could answer the question/test posed by the hypothesis. Observing the behavior of certain subjects to provide an objective analysis of behavior. This can be naturalistic or participant observation. Passive vs active involvement in the observation of subjects. There are longitudinal and cross-sectional designs within this category.