LIT 20600 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Grater
Document Summary
Chapter 1: experimental psychology and the scientific method. Psychological science: research about the psychological processes underlying behavior. Content of science: what we know (facts learned) Process of science: systematically gathering data, explanations, etc. Methodology: scientific techniques used to collect and evaluate psychological data. Commonsense psychology: everyday, nonscientific data gathering that shapes our expectations and beliefs and directs our behavior toward others (don"t ask roommate for a favor when she is in a bad mood) Ability to gather data in a systematic and impartial way is constrained due to 1) the sources of psychological information and 2) our inferential strategies. Conclusions drawn have limited accuracy and usefulness due to biases. Sources are not always good for obtaining valid information about behavior even though it comes from trusted sources like friends, family, etc; because it is offered by people we like it is accepted without question. More likely to accept information from someone who is attractive, popular, etc.
