PSYCH 111 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Naturalistic Observation, Confounding, Psychological Testing
Document Summary
Chapter 2 - the research enterprise in psychology. Looking for laws: the scientific approach to behaviour. Scientific approach assumes that events are governed by some lawful order. Goals shared by psychologists and other scientists: Hypothesis - a tentative statement about the relationship between 2 or. Variables - any measurable conditions, events, characteristics, or more variables behaviours that are controlled or observed in a study. Theory - a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations. Using concepts of natural selection and reproductive fitness to explain mating preferences. Good theory"s generate a # of testable hypotheses. Operational definition - describes the actions or operations that will be used to measure or control a variable establish precisely what is meant by each variable. Select the research method and design the study. Find most appropriate way to test hypothesis. Data collection techniques - procedures for making empirical observations and measurements.
