chapter 1/week 1 Flashcards
research in the behavioral sciences
psychology is a science
Psychology is the systematic study of behavior and mental processes
- The same methods used for biology, chemistry, etc. can be applied to study behavior, thought, emotion, and physiological processes
three criteria for scientific research
systematic empiricism
public verification
solvable problems
systematic empiricism
rely on systematically-obtained (not casual) observations (or data) to draw conclusions
Public Verification
findings must be able to be observed, replicated, and verified by other researchers (fabrication and self-correction)
solvable problems
focus on questions that are potentially answerable through systematic empiricism (no scientific study on existence of Gods or Angels)
scientific process
- Developing a research idea and refining it into a testable hypothesis
- Choosing a research design: descriptive, correlational, experimental
- Identifying methods to gather data
- Data analysis and interpretation
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Communication of results to others
- Presentations
- Publications
Goals of Behavioral Research → What do you need behavioral research for?
description (what? how?)
prediction (what is next?)
explanation (why?)
Common Sense as a Source of Ideas for Research
Common sense can be both a tool and a hindrance
What we already assume to be true can help psychologists formulate practical and interesting hypotheses
These assumptions can also stifle creativity and the ability to see situations in new ways
theory
a set of propositions that attempts to specify the interrelationships among a set of concepts
More comprehensive and it explains a phenomenon
Ex: Attachment Theory; Cognitive Dissonance Theory; etc
model
attempts to describe how concepts are related (but no why)
More focused and describes a phenomenon
Ex: Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model
Logical Reasoning as a Source of Research Ideas
theory –> hypothesis 1, 2, 3
observed facts –> hypothesis
Logical Impossibility of Proof
Confirming a hypothesis with research findings does not logically indicate that the theory from which the hypothesis is derived is correct because other alternative hypothesis may exist
example:
Theory X states that tiny green men live under people’s skin
Hypothesis: If theory X is true, people who are stabbed will feel pain because the little green men will be hrt
A researcher stabs 50 people and finds that they all feel pain, a finding that clearly supports the theory
Do we conclude that little green men live under people’s skin?
Practical Impossibility of Disproof
Failing to find research support for a hypothesis does not necessarily imply that the theory is incorrect because many things can lead to a failure to obtain supportive data
EXAMPLE
A researcher (unknowingly) designs a flawed study to test whether aspirin reduces headaches
The results show that aspirin has no effect. Should we conclude that the theory that aspirin reduces headaches is wrong?
How Does Science Progress
All ideas must pass through a scientific filter if they are to become widely accepted by the field
Theories gain merit with accumulated supporting evidence from several studies
methodological pluralism
strategy of strong inference
Methodological Pluralism
using a variety of different methods and designs to test a theory
→ gives us greater confidence than findings that are based on a single method
Strategy of Strong Inference
designing studies to test the opposing predictions of two or more theories simultaneously
→ treatment effectiveness studies using multiple alternative treatment options
The Scientific Theory
Over time, ideas pass through a series of filters that help to eliminate:
Blatant nonsense
Dead ends and fringe topics
Methodological biases and errors
Valid but unimportant findings
Findings that won’t replicate
Findings that aren’t interesting or useful
Ideas that pass these filters become part of the established and accepted scientific knowledge in a field !!
Strategies of Behavioral Research
Descriptive research
Correlational research
Experimental research
Quasi-experimental research
Descriptive Research
Describes the behaviors, thoughts, or feelings of a particular group of individuals
ex:
Public opinion polls
Developmental changes in behavior over age
Marketing studies of consumer preferences
Incidence of particular mental disorder
Correlational Research
Investigates the relationship between two or more variables
ex:
Is self esteem related to how shy people are?
Is the ease with which people can be hypnotized related to their conformity in social situations?
Are there gender differences in how people communicate affection?
Experimental Research
Can determine whether certain variables causes changes in behavior, thought, or emotion
- Experiments involve the manipulation of at least one IV and control of extraneous influences so that causal effects on a dependent variable can be isolated
Quasi-Experimental Research
Examines the effects of naturally occurring events
- The researcher is unable to manipulate the independent variable or control all other factors that might influence people’s responses
Domains of Behavioral Science
Developmental psychology
Experimental psychology
Industrial-Organizational psychology
Counseling psychology
Personality psychology
Physiological psychology / Neuroscience
Educational psychology
School psychology
Social psychology
Cognitive psychology
Clinical psychology
Community psychology
