PSY 2174 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Literature Review, Peter Medawar, Naturalistic Observation

96 views19 pages

Document Summary

Why study research methods: learning how to do research in psychology, knowledge of research methods can be useful across all psychological areas (social, cognition, neuroscience, etc. ) Process vs. content: to make you a better informed and more critical consumer of information. Research producer: asks questions like the following: Here is some information being offered to me. Ca(cid:396)l aga(cid:374) (cid:894)(cid:1005)995(cid:895) i(cid:374) the (cid:862)de(cid:373)o(cid:374)-hau(cid:374)ted wo(cid:396)ld: (cid:272)ie(cid:374)(cid:272)e as a ca(cid:374)dle i(cid:374) the da(cid:396)k(cid:863), p(cid:396)ese(cid:374)ted a baloney. Whenever possible, seek independent confirmation of the facts never accept one source of information as proof of validity: arguments from authority carry very little weight i(cid:374) s(cid:272)ie(cid:374)(cid:272)e, the(cid:396)e a(cid:396)e (cid:374)o (cid:862)autho(cid:396)ities(cid:863), o(cid:374)l(cid:455) expert opinion. Try to come up with more than one explanation for how something works whichever explanation stands up to rigorous testing is the one to choose. Try not to get too attached to a hypothesis because it is your own.