PSYC 1010 Chapter 2: Chapter Two - Psychology

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1010
• Professor: Myriam Mongrain

Document Summary

Assumes that there are laws of behaviour that can be discovered through empirical research. Goals: the measurement and description of behaviour. The application of this knowledge to the task of controlling behaviour. Steps in an investigation: formulate a testable hypothesis. Analyze the data and draw conclusions: report the ndings. Advantages: clarity and precision yield better communication. The purpose of an experiment is to nd out whether changes in one variable (x) cause changes in another variable (y). We want to nd out how (x) affects (y). (x) - independent variable (y) - dependent variable. Independent variable: a condition or event that an experimenter varies in order to see its impact on another variable. This is the variable the experimenter controls or manipulates. Dependent variable: the variable that is thought to be affected by manipulation of the independent variable. In an experiment, the investigator typically assembles two groups of subjects who are treated differently with regard to the independent variable.