Whitley: Chap 1:Beh Science: Theory, Research, Application

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Whitley Chap 1Beh Science Theory, Research,
Application

• Science
• Goals, Key values, Scientific approach
• Theories
• Components, Chars, Purpose, Criteria
• Research
• Process, Evaluation, Inferences
• Theory, Research Application
• Interdependence, Research, Application
• Questions

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Science three aspects

• Research (knowledge)
• Theory (organizes it, -gt understanding)
• Application of knowledge

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Goals of Science

• Description
• Understanding
• Prediction
• Control

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Goals of Science

• Description
• Define, differentiate, record, show relationships
  
• Understanding
• Hypothesize relationships
• Temporal order, other plausible causes
• Induce a theory (see Kerlinger)
• Prediction
• Use theory to hypothesize (GRE -gt GPA?)
• Control
• Skinner from rats to college students

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Science Key values

• Empiricism what is it?
• Skepticism skeptical about fusion, ESP?
• Tentativeness women more persuasible?
• Publicness Pons Fleishman
• No replication?

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Scientific Approaches

• Logical positivism What is it?
• Or
• Humanism
• Dogmatism
• Dogmatic v. Expert authority
• Tenacity
• Intuition
• Common sense

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Scientific Process

• Observe
• Describe
• Understand
• Predict
• Verify
• Revise
• Control

• Empirical observation
• Organize observations
• Theory
• Hypothesize
• Test (experiment)
• Revise theory
• Apply theory / findings

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Theories

• Suppositions about how vars are related
• See Kerlinger definitions
• Components
• Assumptions (implicit explicit)
• Behavior is goal directed (Locke Latham)
• Paradigms
• Blank slate or innate causes?

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Theory More Components

• Hypothetical Constructs
• Concepts -gt constructs
• (e.g. hostile v. friendly)
• Unidimensional (what is one?)
• Multidimensional (leadership? )
• Muli-faceted (Type A competitive/hostile)

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Theory components cont

• Definitions
• Theoretical (narrative)
• Operational
• Aggression (Buss)
• Give examples of narrative and operational

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Theory

• Propositions
• Directional Relations among constructs
• Which of Locke Lathams is correct
• See fig 1-2 p. 15
• Causal propositions
• IV -gt DV
• Mediating (comes between IV DV)
• (IV Goal accept work motivation gt DV Perf)
• Moderating (change or limit rel between IV DV)
• E.g ability

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Theory Characteristics

• Specification
• How well defined are vars and relationships?
• Scope
• Broad or narrow
• Locke Lathan (GS for work performance)

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Theory Purposes

• Organize knowledge
• Around general principles
• (e.g. reinforcement theory)
• Extend knowledge
• Modify theory to improve prediction
• Convergence of theories
• E.g. attribution and learned helplessness
• Guide research and action
• Generalize to other settings, populations

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Theory Evaluation Criteria(Shaw Costanzo, 82)

• Logical consistency among assumptions
• Falsifiability to test theory
• Agreement with known data
• Utility whats it good for?
• For understanding
• Stimulating research

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Research

• Empirical
• Descriptive, relational, experimental
• Theoretical or trial and error
• Library
• archival
• Literature

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Research Process

• Research question
• Research strategy
• Data collection
• Data analysis / interpretation
• Report results / findings

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Evaluating Research(Campbell Stanley 79)

• Construct validity
• Internal validity
• Statistical conclusion validity
• External validity

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Inference

• Must infer from results
• Cannot prove theory
• Always tentative
• Will the sun come up tomorrow? Whats the
  probability?
• Probabilistic assertions

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Theory Interdependence

• Theory
• Induction and deduction
• Research
• Theoretical
• Applied
• Draws from all fields Clinical, counseling, I/O
  etc.

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Summary

• Goals of science
• understand behavior
• Theory
• Assumptions, hypothetical constructs,
  propositions
• Research steps (five)
• Interdependence of
• Theory, research and application

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