PSYC 2000 Chapter : Ch 1 Lecture 2 Outline
Lecture 2 and 3
Chapter 1: Conducting Psychological Research Outline
What is the scientific method, what are the steps, and why do we use it?
1. Develop a question
2. Form a hypothesis
3. Test the hypothesis
4. Come to a conclusion
5. Share the results
*Replication
What is a hypothesis? A theory? What are the differences?
Hypothesis: testable prediction of what happens under certain conditions
Theory: comprehensive explanations of observable effects
What are the hallmarks of a good theory?
- as few assumptions and as many predictions as possible.
- should predict new observations
- Falsifiable: makes sufficiently precise predictions that evidence could be
found to contradict it.
- Principle of Parsimony: preference for simple explanations.
What does is mean to say a question is empirical or scientific?
-can be tested:
who, on average, is taller?: men or woman
are there other earth-like planets?:
does music help or hinder us while studying?:
-a matter of proof and evidence, not belief
What are the different types of validity?
Definition: the extent to which a concept, conclusion, or measurement is well-
founded and corresponds accurately to the real world
*External validity: to what extent can the results be generalized to other
people/animals and situations.
*Internal validity: to what extent is your manipulation causing the effects?
*Ecological validity: how much does the setting approximate a real-world
setting?
What are the different ways in which we gather information?
List below
How does each of them work?
What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Naturalisitc observation: A careful examination of what many people or
nonhuman animals do under more or less natural conditions
Document Summary
What is the scientific method, what are the steps, and why do we use it: develop a question, form a hypothesis, test the hypothesis, come to a conclusion, share the results. Hypothesis: testable prediction of what happens under certain conditions. As few assumptions and as many predictions as possible. Falsifiable: makes sufficiently precise predictions that evidence could be should predict new observations found to contradict it. Principle of parsimony: preference for simple explanations. A matter of proof and evidence, not belief. Definition: the extent to which a concept, conclusion, or measurement is well- founded and corresponds accurately to the real world. *external validity: to what extent can the results be generalized to other people/animals and situations. Naturalisitc observation: a careful examination of what many people or nonhuman animals do under more or less natural conditions. *advantages: realistic picture of what is occurring in the natural setting. *disadvantage: observer bias- blind observers; each naturalistic setting is unique.
