PSYCH 360 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Internal Validity, Psych, Dependent And Independent Variables
20 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Research is the systematic search for facts through the use of careful observations and investigations: it is the key to accuracy in all fields but is particularly important to psychology. Theories and treatments that seem reasonable and effective in individual instances may prove disastrous when widely applied. Only by fully testing a theory or technique on representative groups of individuals can clinicians evaluate the accuracy, effectiveness, and safety of their ideas and techniques. Clinical researchers face certain challenges that make their work very difficult: measuring unconscious motives, assessing private thoughts, monitoring mood changes, calculating human potential. Clinical researchers must consider different cultural backgrounds, races, and genders of the people they study. They must always ensure that the rights of their research participants, both human and animal, are not violated. Can provide a detailed, interpretative, description of a person"s life and psychological problems. Can be a source of new ideas about behavior. May offer tentative support for a theory.
