PSYB10H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Informed Consent, Operational Definition, Experiment
Document Summary
Every social psychology study begins with a question. Can come from reading about research that has already done, news story, personal observation, folk wisdom etc. Once the question is formed, have to see what research has already been done on this topic and related topics. Electronic database of published research is best way to find this info. Researcher"s original questions is usually changed in one way or another during course of searching the literature: becomes more precise and specific. Hypothesis: a testable prediction about the conditions under which an event will occur. Formulated from the vague initial idea we may have for research. Once data is collected, the hypothesis becomes a theory. Theory: an organized set of principles used to explain observed phenomena. Theories are usually evaluated in terms of three criteria. Simplicity, comprehensiveness and their ability to generate new hypotheses (generativity) Best theories are precise, encompass all relevant info and lead to new hypotheses, further research and better understanding.
