Chapter 1 & 2: Scientific Understanding of Behavior; Where to Start Flashcards
Three Sources of Knowledge
- Intuition (anecdotal evidence)
- Authority
- Empiricism
Sources of Knowledge: Intuition
Intuition: Assumptions build upon past experiences
Problem: Illusory Correlations
* A cognitive bias that occurs when we focus on two events that stand out and occur together.
* effect is likely to occur when we are highly motivated to believe in the causal relationship.
Illusory Correlations
Definition: A cognitive bias that occurs when we focus on two events that stand out and occur together.
- effect is likely to occur when we are highly motivated to believe in the causal relationship.
Sources of Knowledge: Authority
Authoritative Knowledge: Knowledge shared by people in power (Politicians, Doctors, etc.)
Problem: Agendas that motivate misinformation
Sources of Knowledge: Empiricism
Empirical Knowledge: Claims are based on evidence. Evidence is gathered through the scientific method.
5 Fundamental Components of the Scientific Method
- Empirical Knowledge
- Skepticism
- Open Framework
- Adversal, Testable, Falsifiable
- Cumulative & Self-Correcting
Scientific Method: Empirical Knowledge
Claims are based on evidence
Scientific Method: Skepticism
Claims are questioned and critically evaluated
Scientific Method: Open Framework:
All claims are open to others for criticism and debate.
* ie: Peer-review
Open Framework: Peer-review
Peer-review: Scientists check each other’s work BEFORE publication
Scientific Method: Adversal, Testable, Falsifiable
Every claim must be testable and falsifiable.
* A constant push for better evidence that leads to better theories
* When evidence refutes a claim, ideas are revised and updates
Scientific Method: Cumulative & Self-Correcting
Evidence builds over time into theories.
* New evidence corrects existing theories, or leads to new theories
Goals of Behavioral Science
- Describe Behavior
- Predict Behavior
- Determine the Causes of Behavior
- Explain Behavior
- Alter/Change Behavior
Three elements of Causality
- Temporal Precedence
- Covariation of Cause & Effect
- Eliminate Alternative Explanations
Causality: Temporal Precedence
The cause precedes the effect temporally (temporal = over time)
ie: The doorbell must ring before the dog barks
Causality: Covariation of Cause & Effect
The variation of the relationship between variables.
* When the cause is present, the effect will occur
* When the cause is absent, the effect will not occur.
Causality: Eliminate Alternative Explanations
The relationship between variables may be influenced by a third variable
* There may be a more specific causal mechanism than what was originally hypothesized.
Pseudoscience
Use of seemingly scientific terms and definitions to support claims that have no basis in scientific research
Order of Scientific Approach:
- Get an idea
- Create a testable hypothesis
- Review the literature
- Conduct pilot research
- Complete the research
- Conduction statistical tests
- Interpret the results
- Prepare an article (written report)
Sources of Inquiry
Sources of inquiry are all around us.
John Wheeler: “We live on an island surrounded by a sea of ignorance. As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance.”
* Island of knowledge = stuff we know
* Shore of Ignorance = stuff we do not know
Sources of ideas
- Common sense
- Practical Problems
- Observations
- Theories
- Past research
Research Questions
The 1st step when designing and conducting a research investigation
Criteria: Must be specific, testable, and falsifiable
Hypothesis
A tentative (or possible) answer to a research question
Criteria: Once hypothesis is stated, the researcher can design the study
Predictions
An educated guess that comes after the hypothesis
Criteria: directly testable, includes specific variables and methodologies.
What is a Theory?
A systematic body of ideas about a particular topic or phenomenon that is built from evidence over time.
The 2 Functions of Theories
- Organize and Explain:
* Theories organize and explain specific facts or descriptions about a behavior.
* This structure brings meaning to otherwise meaningless information.
2.Generate New Ideas:
* By focusing our thinking, theories help us notice new aspects of behavior
Types of Journal Articles
- Literature Review (aka: systematic review/ systematic literature review)
- Theory Articles
- Empirical Research Articles
Types of Journal Articles: Literature Review
Summaries of previous research, across different studies, on a particular topic.
- Other names: “Systematic Review” or “Systematic Literature Review”
Another review method: meta-analysis (uses statistical procedures to measure trends across studies)
Types of Journal Articles: Theory Articles
Theory Articles – Summarize and integrate prior research to provide a new framework for understanding a theory/phenomenon.
Types of Journal Articles – Empirical Research Articles
A paper that reports the results of original research based on actual observations or experiments.
They have 5 sections:
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Methods
4. Results
5. Discussion
