Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Clairvoyance, Naturalistic Observation, Blood Pressure

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Dr.Mike

Document Summary

Science is an approach to asking and answering questions about the universe. Curiosity, scepticism, and open-mindedness are driving forces behind scientific inquiry. Diffusion of responsibility: a psychological state in which each person feels decreased personal responsibility for intervening (occurs when there are multiple bystanders). Five steps to scientific inquiry: identify question of interest. Scientists observe something that piques their interest, and they ask a question about it: gather information and form hypothesis. Scientists determine whether any studies, theories, and other information that might help answer their question already exists. Then they form a hypothesis (a specific prediction about some phenomenon that often takes form as a statement: test hypothesis by conducting research. Scientists test the hypothesis by conducting research: analyze data, draw tentative conclusions, and report findings. Researchers analyse the information they collect, draw tentative conclusions, and report their findings to the scientific community.