PSY384H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Scientific Theory, Psycholinguistics, Dependent And Independent Variables
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Scientific theory: explanatory description about how something works or why something is the way it is, core characteristic of modern scientific theories falsifiable, no scientific theory can be declared true. Scientific method: the process of observation theory prediction experiment revision theory, debates on what counts as the best type of theory, parsimony- both theories explain things equally as well. Independent variable- experiment purposely manipulates: dependent variable- the effect that is measured, ex. Reaction time (rt)- measures the speed of the response: experiments may have more than one dependent and independent variable. Interaction- the effect of one independent variable on the dependent variable is influenced by another independent variable: cognitive psychology (speed- accuracy tradeoff, faster responses are more likely to be incorrect. Maple et al (newborn cries: within- subjects comparison, measuring the effect on the dependent variable when the same individual participates in all conditions of an independent variable, each subject participates in each condition, ex.
