PSY 300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Scientific Theory, Falsifiability, Empiricism
Document Summary
Introduction to scientific reasoning- psychology is a way of thinking: psychologist are empiricists, basing one"s conclusions on systematic observations. They test theories through research and in turn revise their theories based on the resulting data. Third, they take an empirical approach to both applied research which directly targets real world problems and basic research which is intended to contribute to the general body of knowledge. Journalism- journalists or laypeople, reaching the general public r. Chapter 2 notes- sources of information: why research is best and how to find it. Comparison group- enables us to compare what would happen both with and without the thing we are interested in. Confounds- alternative explanations, occurs when you think one thing caused an outcome but in fact other things changed too so you are confused about what the cause really was. Confederate- actor playing a specific role for the experimenter.
