PSYC 1001 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Psycinfo, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Observer-Expectancy Effect

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1001
• Professor: Kim Hellemans

Document Summary

Goals of science of psych: -measurement/description of behavior, Scienti c approach assumes, laws of behavior can be discovered through empirical research understanding/prediction of behavior, application of this knowledge to controlling behavior. Theories permit psychologists to make the leap from description of behavior to understanding of behavior. Con dence in theory increases when their hypothesis is supported by research. Steps of a scienti c investigation: formulate a testable hypothesis, select research method and design study, collect the data, analyze data ad draw conclusions, report the ndings. Scientists use operational de nitions to clarify what their variable means. Advantages of scienti c approach: clarity in communication, relative intolerance of error. Experimental research: involves manipulation of independent variable to determine effect on dependent variable. This is done by comparing experimental/control groups; must be alike in regard to important variables. Any changes in dependent variable must be due to independent variable.