PSYC 1010 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Naturalistic Observation, Mind Control, Social Desirability Bias

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1010
• Professor: Agnieszka Kopinska

Document Summary

Psychology is empirical which makes it a scientific endeavour. Goals of scientific enterprise: measurement and description. Investigator figures out a way to measure the phenomenon under study: understanding the prediction. Understanding occurs when you can explain the reasons for the occurence of events must use a hypothesis; tentative statement about the relationship between 2 or more variables. Variables measurable conditions, events, characteristics, or behaviours that are controlled or observed in a study: application and control. Build a theory and create a description to the understanding of behaviour. Steps in a scientific investigation: testable hypothesis. Variables must be clearly defines with operational definitions describes the actions or operations that will be used to measure or control a variable: select a research method and design the study. Methods: experiments, case studies, surveys, naturalistic observation. Participants are chosen: collect the data. Data collection techniques are procedures for making observations: analyze the data and draw conclusions.