PS260 Chapter 2: PS260 Chap 2 Notes.docx
Document Summary
Precision: scientists start out with general theory (organized system of assumptions, certainty, psychological scientists obtain a hypothesis (when unsure of, operational definitions: how the hypothesis is to be observed and measured (ex anxiety or threatening situation, theory/hunch=> hypothesis=> predictions with operational definitions => evidence, theory=> hypothesis generation => hypothesis testing => data => facts (repeat) Skepticism: complimentary to critical thinkers, scientists do not accept ideas on faith or authority, treating conclusions, both new and old with caution, caution must be balanced by openness and new ideas, reliance on empirical evidence, anecdotes are insufficient, gathered through the use of various research methods, hypotheses are not judged by entertainment, there must be empirical evidence (verifiable by observation, willingness to make risky predictions , scientist must state an idea in such a way that it can be disproven with counterevidence, principle of falsifiability: scientific theory must make predictions that are specific enough to disconfirm the theory.
