PSYC 107 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Scientific Method, Confounding, Normal Distribution
Document Summary
Textbook reading chapter 2 conducting research in psychology. Common sense: the intuitive ability to understand the world. Logic: tells us how the world should work, not how the world actually works. Scientific thinking: the process of using the cognitive skills required to generate, test, and revise theories: question authority, open skepticism. Scientific method: the procedure by which scientists conduct research, consisting of the five basic processes of observation, prediction, testing, interpretation, and communication (optic) Test scientists select one of a number of established research methods. Interpret scientists use mathematical techniques to determine whether the results are significant. Communicate communicate results: replication: the repetition of a study to confirm the results; it is essential to the scientific process. Research designs: plans of action for how to conduct a scientific study: variable: a characteristic that changes, or varies such as age, gender, weight, intelligence, anxiety, and extraversion, population: the entire group a researcher is interested in.