PSYA01H3 Lecture Notes - Uncorrelated Random Variables, Falsifiability, Frequency Distribution
Document Summary
2 kinds of doctors long ago: dogmatists best way to understand illness was to develop theories about the body"s function, empiricists - best way to understand illness was to observe sick ppl. Empiricism = the belief that accurate knowledge can be acquired through observation. Empiricism is the essential element of the scientific method. Scientific method = a set of principles about the appropriate relationship b/w ideas and evidence. Is the idea = theory = a hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon: the rule of parsimony = when scientists start to develop a theory they start with the simplest one (william ockham) Hypothesis = a falsifiable prediction made by a theory. Empirical method = a set of rules and techniques for observation. Methods = refers primarily to technologies that enhance the powers of the senses. Operational definition = a description of a property in concrete, measurable terms.
