Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: External Validity, Confounding, Naturalistic Observation

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: John Campbell

Document Summary

Theory: set of formal statements that explain how and why certain events are related to one another. Theory used to develop new hypotheses, which are then tested by conducting additional research and gathering evidence. Major limitation is due to various explanations for behaviour with no sure way to determine correct alternative. Theory development is strongest test of scientific understanding, because good theories generate an integrated network of predictions. Incorporates existing facts and observations within single broad framework. Testable, generating new hypotheses whose accuracy can be evaluated by gathering new evidence. Conforms to law of parsimony: if two theories can explain and predict the same phenomena equally well, the simpler is preferred. Theory never regarded as absolute truth, as future observation can contradict it. Variable: any characteristic that can differ (gender, age, ethnicity, etc. ) Certain variables can cause problems due to different meanings in different cases (levels of intelligence, etc. )