PSYCH 230 Lecture 6: Validities
15 Feb 2018
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If your prediction supports your hypothesis; your hypothesis might support your theory. Like other scientists social psychologists develop theories, and derive hypotheses from theory and test hypotheses: based on the results they revise the theory and formulate and test new hypotheses, previous theories and research; science is cumulative, personal observation. Observational (qualitative) description what is the nature of the phenomenon: arguable that observations must come first. Limitations: bias, need training to understand how to interpret behavior, presence changes the nature of the group, ex: ethnography: description from an insiders pov; Ex: how much aggression do children exhibit during school recesses. Method: behaviors concretely defined before observation, observer systematically looks for and records behavior, accuracy of observer is obsessed. Limits of observational research: certain behaviors are difficult to observe; occur rarely or in private, archival analysis: original may not have all information researchers need, does not allow prediction and explanation; it is limited to description.
