PSY 101 Chapter 2-1: Learning Objects 2-1 Notes
KEY
people--BLUE
works/ideas/beliefs/theories--ORANGE
importance--YELLOW
Science
• Special way of learning about the world through systematic observation and experimentation
• Requires proof and evidence
• Relies on objectivity rather than subjectivity
o Objectivity
▪ Conclusions are based on facts
▪ No influence from personal emotions or biases
o Subjectivity
▪ Conclusions reflect personal points of view
▪ Any observation by a human is, by definition, subjective
• Systematic v. Hit-or-Miss Observations
o Hit-or-Miss
▪ Making conclusions based only on whatever is happening around us
▪ i.e. making conclusions about the human mind while restricting our observations to
our immediate circle of friends
• Relies on observable, repeatable evidence
• Scientific knowledge
o Both stable and changing
o Always open to improvement
o Never considered certain
Faith
• Literally means "trust"
• Belief that does not depend on logical proof or evidence
Scientific Method
• Used to investigate phenomena and answer questions
• Seeks to develop theories
o Sets of facts and relationships between facts that describe and predict things in the world
around us
• The process
o Begins with an observation and a question
o Form a hypothesis
▪ Educated guess based on prior observations or knowledge
o Design a study
o Collect data
o Analyze findings
o Publish the results
Critical Thinking
• Ability to think clearly, rationally, and independently
• One of the foundations of scientific reasoning
• A skill people need to learn
• Five critical thinking questions
o What am I being asked to believe or accept?
