PS101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: The Control Group, Naturalistic Observation, Scientific Progress
Document Summary
The scientific approach to behaviour: measurement and description. Science"s commitment to observation requires that an investigator figure out a way to measure the phenomenon under study. The first goal of psychology is to develop measurement techniques that make it possible to describe behaviour clearly and precisely: understanding and prediction. Scientists believe that they understand events when they can explain the reasons for the occurrence of the event. A hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables. Variables are any measurable conditions, events, characteristics, or behaviors that are controlled or observed in a study. If we hypothesized that physiological arousal would affect emotions, the variables in our study would be physiological arousal and emotional state: application and control. Many scientists hope that the information they gather will be of some practical value in helping to solve every day problems. Once people understand a phenomenon, they often can exert more control over it.
