Chapter 1: Scientific Understanding of Behaviour Flashcards
What is the research process?
- Generate Idea
- Consult Past Research
- State Hypothesis
- Design Study
- Obtain Ethics Approval
- Collect Data
- Analyze Data
- Conduct New Study to Replicate or Extend Results (optional)
- Write Manuscript
- Submit Manuscript to Peer-Reviewed Journal
What do the fields of psychology all have in common?
Psychological scientists do research to improve knowledge and understanding of human behaviour
How can we acquire knowledge?
- Intuition
- Authority
- The Scientific Method
How do we acquire knowledge from intuition?
anecdotal evidence, experience, opinion
How do we acquire knowledge from authority?
source of power or control (e.g., news media, government, publications, researchers, others experts)
What are the disadvantages of acquiring knowledge from intuition and authority?
these methods do not involve critical thinking (analyzing evidence) and it is subject to bias of others or others’ limitations
How do we acquire knowledge from The Scientific Method?
Researchers do not accept knowledge attained from intuition or authority/experts as truth without further evidence
What are the two parts of the scientific method that differentiates from intuition and authority?
- scientific skepticism
- empiricism
What is scientific skepticism?
seek out and evaluate evidence rather than unthinkingly accepting information as truth
What is empiricism?
acquiring knowledge through systematic observations of behaviour
What is the advantage of using the scientific method?
- it is an objective, systematic way to collect, evaluate, and report information about human behaviour that is less affected by biases
- relies on empirical questions
What are empirical questions?
falsifiable and answered through systematic observations
What are the four goals of psychological research?
- Describing Behaviour
- Predicting Behaviour
- Determining the Cause(s) of Behaviour
- Explaining Behaviour
What is Describing Behaviour?
what happens, when does it happen, for whom, how often does it happen?
What is Predicting Behaviour?
when will behaviour occur/not occur?
