PSYC 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Confounding, Operational Definition, Standard Deviation
10 Dec 2015
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Document Summary
Theory: an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organize observations and predicts behaviours/events. Hypothesis: testable prediction, often implied by a theory. Implies predictions that anyone can use to check the theory or derive practical applications. We can test our hypothesis/refine theories by using: Measures to what extent two factors vary together and therefor how well either factor predicts the other. Correlation coefficient: statistical index of the relationship between two things. Negative if two sets of scores relate inversely (one set is going up while the other is going down) Positive if both sets of scores rise at the same time. No matter how strong the correlation coefficient, causation cannot be inferred. Ex: length of marriage positively correlates with men"s hair loss. You cannot conclude that hairless men are therefore better husbands. You cannot conclude that marriage causes hair loss in men. Experimental method: manipulates factors to discover their effects.
