PS101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Scientific Method, Naturalistic Observation, Scientific Progress
Document Summary
Psychologists and other scientists share three sets of interrelated goals: measurement and description: Science"s commitment to observation requires that an investigator figure out a way to measure the phenomenon under study. The first goal of psychology is to develop measurement techniques that make it possible to describe behaviour clearly and precisely: understanding and prediction: Scientists believe that they understand events when they can explain the reasons for the occurrence of the events. To evaluate their understanding, scientists make and test predictions called hypotheses. A hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables. Ultimately, many scientists hope that the information they gather will be of some practical value in helping to solve everyday problems. Once people understand a phenomenon, they often exert more control over it. To build a better understanding of behaviour, psychologists must construct theories. In a typical study, investigators test one or two specific hypotheses derived from a theory.
