Lecture 2 - the scientific method in psychology

Question 1

How is psychology commonly defined?

Answer 1

Psychology is commonly defined as the scientific study of mind, brain and behavior

Question 2

Who is Sigmund Freud and what is he known for?

Answer 2

Sigmund Freud was a Viennese neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis. He foregrounded the role of the unconscious and developed concepts such as Oedipus Complex

Question 3

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Answer 3

1. Observation (data)
2. Explanation (Theory)
3. Prediction (hypothesis)

Question 4

What is the significance of falsification in the scientific method according to Popper?

Answer 4

Falsification is crucial as it implies incremental refinement of theories. A theory must be tested against potential falsifications to ensure its validity. If a theory is falsified by observation, it must be rejected or revised

Question 5

what is the difference between reliability and validity in scientific measurement?

Answer 5

reliability refers to the consistency or repeatability of a measure, while validity refers to the degree to which a measure accurately assesses the construct it is intended to measure

Question 6

Why was Morton’s measure of cranial capacity not valid?

Answer 6

Morton’s measure of cranial capacity was not valid because it conflated cranial capacity with body size and potentially other factors like nutrition, which do not directly relate to intelligence

Question 7

What are key judgements scientists must make about theories?

Answer 7

Scientists must judge whether a theory is general, testable, parsimonious and whether alternative explanations can be ruled out. A theory should provide a simple, comprehensive explanation that predicts novel observations and can be distinguished from other theories

Question 8

Why is quantitative measurement important in psychology?

Answer 8

Quantitative measurement allows for objective, numerical comparison of data, which helps in forming reliable and valid inferences about psychological constructs
- it also permits comparisons across different groups over time

Question 9

What are the implications of uncertainty in scientific inference?

Answer 9

Uncertainty means that sometimes studies will produce false positives (evidence for an effect when none exist) or false negatives (failure to detect a true effect)
- this highlights the importance of replication and critical evaluation of scientific findings