Psy 330 Methods

G&F Chapter 1 Outline

Inquiry & the Scientific Method

I. Research Methods for Psychology?

          A. Psychology is a Science

Science Assumes: (1) The world is real; (2) The world is understandable (rational); (3) The world is regular (patterns exist); (4) Solutions are discoverable (5) Causality

Goals of Science: (1) Discover Regularities; (2) Describe Behavior; (3) Discover Laws; (4) Search for Causes; (5) Develop Theories

We may think we "know" many psychological facts because they are common sense.

 Do they hold true when tested with the scientific method?

      B. Learn to Conduct a Study Conducting research--basic & applied

         C. Become an Educated Consumer

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

      D. Become a Better Thinker

II. Methods of Inquiry (knowing and acquiring knowledge)

            A. Method of Authority
 

            B. Method of Tenacity

                   C.  Method of Intuition

            D.  Rational Method

            E. Empirical Method       

III. Steps of the Scientific Method

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

IV. Other Characteristics of the Scientific Method

        A. Science uses empirical methods

B. Science is objective

C. Science is public and self-correcting

D. Science is progressive and tentative

E. Science is parsimonious

V. The Research Process

VI. The Development of Psychology as a Science

A. History

1. Wilhelm Wundt

2. G. Stanley Hall

B. Modern Psychology

1. Change in research focus

2. Research outside of the lab

3. APA & APS promote research