Psy 330
Gravetter & Forzano Ch. 1
Overview of Psychological Research
I. MAKING SENSE OF THE WORLD
Conducting research--basic & applied
Evaluating research--must be a skilled critical thinker
What are the principles/characteristics of a good experiment?
Flawed research--confounding produces results with no internal validity
II. SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE
Unscientific ways of knowing (methods of authority, intuition, deduction, or
casual observation)
vs. Scientific way of knowing (a repeatable, self-correcting process that seeks to understand phenomena on the basis of empirical phenomena. Fixes belief on the basis of scientific method--systematic, controlled observation.)
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Non-Scientific (everyday) |
Scientific |
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General
Approach
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intuitive
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empirical
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Observation
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casual,
uncontrolled
|
systematic,
controlled |
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Reporting
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biased,
subjective
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unbiased,
objective
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Concepts
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ambiguous,
surplus meaning |
clear
definitions, operational specificity |
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Instruments
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inaccurate,
imprecise |
accurate,
precise
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Measurement
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not valid
or reliable |
valid and
reliable
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Hypotheses
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untestable
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testable
(must be!)
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Attitude
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uncritical,
accepting |
critical,
skeptical
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IV. THE NATURE OF THE SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION--public, empirical, self-correcting
What Is a Theory?
Induction and Deduction
From Theory to Hypothesis
Evaluating Theories--parsimonious? precise? testable? does it fit the data?
Intervening Variables--abstract concepts that link IVs to DVs
Step
1: Observe Behavior or Other Phenomena
Step
2: Form a Tentative Answer or Explanation (Hypothesis)
Step
3: Use the Hypothesis to Generate a Testable Prediction
Step
4: Evaluate the Prediction by Making Systematic, Planned Observations
Step 5: Use the Observations to Support/Refute/Refine the Original Hypothesis
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