Chapter 1- Introduction Flashcards
A set of related assumptions that allows scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to to formulate testable hypotheses
A theory
People often confuse theory with:
Philosophy, speculation, hypothesis, and taxonomy
This term means the love of wisdom. It is a broader term than theory.
Philosophy
Theory relates most closely to this branch of philosophy which means “the nature of knowledge”
Epistemology
The branch of study concerned with observation and classification of data and with the verification of general laws through the testing of hypotheses
Science
Theory is a narrower concept than philosophy, but a broader term than:
Hypothesis
And educated guess or prediction specific enough for its validity to be tested through the use of the scientific method
Hypothesis
A classification of things according to their natural relationships
Taxonomy. Classification is necessary to science, however, taxonomies do not generate hypotheses-a necessary criterion of a useful theory
Why are there different personality theories?
Because psychologists and other scientists have differed in their personal background.
This is the study of how scientists personalities, cognitive processes, developmental history, and social experience affect the kind of science they conduct and the theories they create
The psychology of science
What are the six components of a useful theory
1) generates research
2) is falsifiable
3) organizes data
4) guides action
5) is internally consistent
6) is parsimonious
A useful theory will generate two different kinds of research
Descriptive research and hypothesis testing
This kind of research is concerned with the measurement, labeling, and categorization of the units employed in theory building
Descriptive research. Can expand an existing theory
The second kind of research generated by a useful theory, leads to an indirect verification of the usefulness of the theory
Hypothesis testing
A theories ability to be confirmed or disconfirmed
It’s falsifiability. A theory must be precise
And internally consistent theory is one whose components are logically compatible. A term included in this is one that defines units in terms of observable events or behaviors that can be measured.
An operational definition
What are the six dimentions for a concept of humanity
1) determinism versus free choice
2) pessimism versus optimism
3) causality versus teleology
4) conscious versus unconscious determinants of behaviour
5) biological versus social influences
6) uniqueness versus similarities among people
Are people’s behaviours determined by forces over which they have no control, or can people choose to be what they wish to be
Determinism versus free choice
Are people doomed to live miserable, conflicted, and troubled lives, or can they change and grow into psychologically healthy, happy, fully functioning human beings
Pessimism versus optimism
Holds that behavior is a function of past experiences
Causality
An explanation of behavior in terms of future goals or purposes
Teleology
Are people ordinarily aware of what they are doing and why they are doing it, or do unconscious forces impinge on them and drive them to act without awareness of these underlying forces
Conscious versus unconscious determinants of behavior
Are people mostly creatures of biology, or are they personality shaped largely by their social relationships
Biological versus social influences on personality
Is the salient feature of people their individuality, or is it their common characteristics
Uniqueness versus similarities
The extent to which a measuring instrument yields consistent results
Reliability
The degree to which an instrument measures what it is supposed to measure
Validity
The extent to which an instrument measures some hypothetical construct. Constructs such as extroversion, aggressiveness, intelligence, and emotional stability. These constructs have no physical existence; they are hypothetical constructs that should relate to observable behaviour
Construct validity
Three important types of construct validity are:
Convergent validity, divergent validity, and discriminant validity
The extent that a test predicts some future behavior
Predictive validity
A pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics that give both consistency and individuality to human behavior
Personality
