Title: The Science of Psychology
1The Science of Psychology
2Ways to Acquire Knowledge
- Tenacity
- Acceptance of knowledge because it has been
repeated - Authority
- Acceptance of knowledge from authorities
3Ways to Acquire Knowledge
- Problems with tenacity and authority?
- How do you know the knowledge is true?
- Its difficult to change in the face of evidence
- How credible is the authority?
4Ways to Acquire Knowledge
- Reason and Logic
- Start with an assumption
- Logically deduce consequences based on that
assumption - Experience
- Gaining knowledge through direct experience
- Common sense
5Ways to Acquire Knowledge
- Science
- Way of thinking about and observing the universe
to gain a deep understanding of how it works - Attempts to provide objective information that
can be verified by anyone who wants to repeat the
observation - Goals
- Description and Measurement
- Understanding and Prediction
- Application and Control
- Based on a combination of reasoning and common
sense
6Characteristics of the Scientific Method
- Objectivity
- Empirical observation quantifiable measurements
- Confirmation of Findings
- Replication Others can repeat procedures to
confirm original results - Peer Review Process by which a paper is
published after being critiqued by other
scientists
7Characteristics of the Scientific Method
- Self-Correction
- Errors and faulty reasoning should be corrected
as they are discovered - Control
- Accounting for or preventing the effect of
unwanted factors - Direct manipulation of factors of major interest
to determine their effects
8The Research Process
9The Research Process
- The Problem
- Check the Literature
10The Research Process
- The Problem
- Check the Literature
- Formulate Theory
- Theory Formal statement of relationships
- Two Functions
- Organizes empirical observations (Explains)
- Acts as a guide for future observations (Predicts)
11The Research Process
- The Problem
- Check the Literature
- Formulate Theory
- Develop Hypothesis
- Hypothesis
- Prediction stated in such a way that allows
testing - Often tests a specific part of a theory
12The Research Process
- The Problem
- Check the Literature
- Formulate Theory
- Develop Hypothesis
- Design Conduct Research Project
13Research Methods
- Nonexperimental Methods
- Archival research
- Naturalistic observation
- Surveys
- Case studies
- Correlational research
- Experimental Method
- Advantages
- Describe and predict behavior
- Useful when ethical considerations prevent true
experimentation - Causality
14Experimentation in a Nutshell
- Variable Event or behavior that can assume at
least two values - Independent Variable (IV)
- The variable the experimenter manipulates
- Physiological
- Experience
- Environmental
- Participant characteristics are often treated as
IVs - Dependent Variable (DV)
- The variable that is measured
- Can be measured lots of ways
- Number correct
- Frequency
- Amount
- Duration
15Experimental Research
- For an experiment, you need at least two
conditions - Treatment condition
- They receive the manipulation you created
- Control condition
- They do not receive your manipulation
16Manipulation, Comparison,and Control
Manipulate
17Manipulation, Comparison, and Control
Compare
18Manipulation, Comparison, and Control
Control
19Manipulation, Comparison, and Control
Control
Extraneous Variables
20The Research Process
- The Problem
- Check the Literature
- Formulate Theory
- Develop Hypothesis
- Design Conduct Research Project
- Analyze Data, Interpret Results
21The Research Process
- The Problem
- Check the Literature
- Formulate Theory
- Develop Hypothesis
- Design Conduct Research Project
- Analyze Data, Interpret Results
- Modify Theory in Light of Findings
22The Research Process
- The Problem
- Check the Literature
- Formulate Theory
- Develop Hypothesis
- Design Conduct Research Project
- Analyze Data, Interpret Results
- Modify Theory in Light of Findings
- New Problem!