PSYC 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter Module 2 Topic Notes: Scientific Method, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Naturalistic Observation

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: Jordan Poppenk

Document Summary

Theories are explanations they are valuable insofar as they can explain data. They can be supported, rejected, or modified based on new evidence that they explain or fail to explain. To test a theory, we have to generate a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a testable prediction about processes that can be observed and measured. You can think of it as an educated guess based on the explanations and assumptions that comprise a theory. An important aspect of the scientific or empirical method is that any fact or experience must be verifiable, which means it can be replicated. If the result is not due to chance, it should be found consistently by the experimenter and anyone else using the same methods. A result is objective if it is based on observable phenomena and is uninfluenced by emotions or personal points of view. You (cid:373)a(cid:455) ha(cid:448)e heard the ter(cid:373) (cid:862)the e(cid:373)piri(cid:272)al (cid:449)orld(cid:863).