Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Scientific Method, Trait Theory, Operational Definition

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Shauna Burke

Document Summary

Scientific principles in psychology & scientific attitudes: scientific method used to determine laws of physical sciences, curiosity, skepticism, open-mindedness, diffusion of responsibility- psychological state in which each person feels decreased personal responsibility for intervening. Is testable; generates new hypotheses, evaluated by gathering evidence: organizes information in a meaningful way. Conforms to law of parsimony- if two theories can explain/predict same phenomena, simpler is preferred. Advantages: study closely, challenge validity of theory/belief, new ideas/hypotheses using more controlled research methods, insight into child development, mental disorders, cultural influences. Categories: verbal assertion, physical assertion, physical aggression, when disguise is not feasible people ignore presence of observer, habituation: survey research: information obtained by administering questionaries/interviews to people. Ask about behaviours, experiences, attitudes on wide-ranging issues ex. political polls. Population: all individuals about whom we are interested in drawing a conclusion. Sample: subset of individuals drawn from the larger population of interest. Representative sample: represents important characteristics of the population.