L4 - scientific/experimental method Flashcards
Braitenberg vehicle
tempted to describe machines with very simple internal structures using psychological language
dynamic, complex, unpredictable behaviours can emerge from simple systems
Ockham’s razor
given several explanations, simplest should be accepted (easiest to test)
reductionism
only need mechanistic explanation
but do we need a psychological explantion/would it add something about the true nature?
cannot empirically exclude philosophical possibilities, only know what we can observe
problem: emergent behaviour - emergent behaviour may be unpredictable
rationalism
using reason & logical arguments
observation unecessary and potentially misleading
empiricism
hypotheses need to be (dis)confirmed by observation using empirical, descriptive, and experimental methods
observation reproduced more -> more certain
scientific method
observation->hypothesis->prediction->experiment->analysis-»
fact = data + theory
inductivism
observations->theory->hypothesis->more observations->laws
“all swans are white”
falsificationism
refutable statement deduced from theory, experiment set up to falsify not confirm theory
strict testing
theory can be changed & tested again
Kuhn’s cycle of revolutions
“science progresses funeral by funeral”
preparadigm period->normal science->anomaly->crisis->revolution->normal science
observer effects
our “reality” manifests in a specific way based on our interaction with it
experimentation assumes that only factor affecting behaviour is objectively manipulated variables but this is incorrect
experimenter bias
exposure of rodents to male experimentors produces pain inhibition (pheromones)
what is true behaviour?
demand characteristics
try to do what they think researchers want to see to please them
demand characteristics are cues in experiment that convey hypothesis
Milgram experiment
participants willing to kill when following commands from perceived authority figure but many problems (demand characteristics, artificiality, representativeness)
representativeness
research predominantly on male while North-American psychology undergraduates (WEIRD) - not representative of humanity
doubtful whether results can be reproduced in other populations
artificiality
bizarre tasks in research labs not representative of real life situations
result of reducitonist approach
also applies to animals!
can try field study without being noticed
descriptive methods
naturalistic observation
Hawthorne effect & experiment
several workplace conditions manipulated but productivity increased as long as observed, regardless of light, pay, etc