Lecture 5 - Scientific Approach

Question 1

Scientific Method

Key Features

L5, P.1

Answer 1

• Is imperical - must be able to verify observations
• Information must be logical
• Is systematic, transparent and accountable

Question 2

Scientific Method

In practice

L5, P.2

Answer 2

1. Identify Questions of interest
2. Review literature and find out what is already known
3. Develop a testable hypothesis that is operationally defined
4. Design the research project - choose participants, etc.
5. Collect & Analyze data
6. Reject or accept the hypothesis
7. Write scientific research articles with the research findings
8. Go through the peer reviewing process - anymous reviewer with relevant experience in the topic gives thier opinion and the editor reviews thier work and changes and final touches are made
9. Research gets published
10. Build a theory off research findings

Question 3

Hypothesis

L5, P.2

Answer 3

• A tentative predictive explanation of some phenomenon
• A testable If - Then statement
• EX. “Hot temperatures make people more aggressive” If hot = become more aggressive
• Science must have predictions that are testable. if they arent they have to become operationally defined

Question 4

Theories

L5, P.2

Answer 4

• A principle or set of principles designed to explain something
• Broader ideas about more general things we look at
• Organizes, summarizes, generalizes
• Used after a research study to describe findings relating to the hypothesis
• EX. “Aggression arises when basic personal needs are not met”
• Must be supported by empirical findings

Question 5

Inductive Reasoning

L5, P.3

Answer 5

• How we build theories
• Derived principles from action to generalization
• What is done with research findings after the study is completed (doesnt HAVE to be done inside a research format)
• EX. you see that people who are outside in hot weather are more aggressive than people who are swimming in the ocean cooling off

Question 6

Deductive Reasoning

L5, P.3

Answer 6

• Produces hypothesis’s
• Starts with a general principle and uses deductive reasoning to make a specific prediction to a specific situation
• EX. you assume that yourself and others get more aggressive in hot weather so you choose to go swimming in the ocean rather than walk around the park on a hot day