PSYC 361 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Dependent And Independent Variables, Empiricism, Determinism
8 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Assumptions of science: empiricism the best way to understand behavior is to . Use data to test prediction: determinism behavior is orderly and systematic. Nothing occurs by chance: discoverability orderliness can be discovered. Research methodologies allow us to test and draw inferences about ideas of how the world works: construct abstract concept or quality that doesn"t physically exist but we attempt to measure it. This is what researchers are interested in: variable an attribute, quality, or entity that can assume different values across people or things. Independent variable variable that varies or is manipulated to observe its effect on behavior. Dependent variable variable that is thought to be affected by the independent variable: hypothesis testable statement describing the relationship between 2 or more constructs. Make hypothesis about constructs, but measure relationships among variables. Research hypothesis uses constructs: theory a set of interrelated hypotheses used to explain a phenomenon and make predictions among relevant constructs.
