PSY 1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Confirmation Bias, Human Behavior, Falsifiability

• School: University of Iowa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 1001
• Professor: Poremba Amy

Document Summary

A scientific theory is an explanation for a number of findings in the natural world. Hypotheses are specific predictions based off theories. A hypothesis is a prediction that can be tested. Hypothesis vs theory: 5 factors make psychology difficult, common sense. Common sense should serve as a generator for hypotheses. Must learn when and when not to trust our common sense. Tendency to seek out evidence that supports our hypotheses ad neglect contradicting evidence. Need to design studies that may disprove one"s theories: psychology as a science. Science is an approach to evidence, one designed to keep us from fooling ourselves. Instead, find out which explanations best fit the data. Typical scientific methods: natural observation: ex- jane goodall with primates, case studies- can provide access to something rare or unusual, self-report- surveys, depends on sampling, correlational designs, experimental designs. Dependent variable: what is measured: characteristics of science.