PSYC 2450 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Defecation, Dream Interpretation, B. F. Skinner
22 Nov 2011
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A scientific theory is nothing more than a set of concepts and propositions that describe, organize, and explain a set of observations. These theories help us organize our thinking about aspects of experience that interest us. Good theories should be parsimonious(theory that uses fewest explanatory principles to explain it), falsifiable(capable of generating predictions that could be disconfirmed), and heuristic(build on existing knowledge and stimulate new discoveries). Nature vs nurture: the debate among developmental theorists about the relative importance of biological predispositions(nature) and environments(nurture) as determinants of human development. Active vs passive: debate whether children are active contributors to their own development or, rather passive recipients of environmental influences. The assumption is that parents have control and are responsible for their child"s behaviour. Continuity vs discontinuity: debate whether changes are quantitative and continuous or qualitative and discontinuous. Quantitative is incremental change in degree without sudden transformations. Qualitative change is a change that makes people different from what they were before.
