The Science of Psychology

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The Science of Psychology
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Ways to Acquire Knowledge

• Tenacity
• Acceptance of knowledge because it has been
  repeated
• Authority
• Acceptance of knowledge from authorities

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Ways to Acquire Knowledge

• Problems with tenacity and authority?
• How do you know the knowledge is true?
• Its difficult to change in the face of evidence
• How credible is the authority?

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Ways to Acquire Knowledge

• Reason and Logic
• Start with an assumption
• Logically deduce consequences based on that
  assumption
• Experience
• Gaining knowledge through direct experience
• Common sense

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Ways to Acquire Knowledge

• Science
• Way of thinking about and observing the universe
  to gain a deep understanding of how it works
• Attempts to provide objective information that
  can be verified by anyone who wants to repeat the
  observation
• Goals
• Description and Measurement
• Understanding and Prediction
• Application and Control
• Based on a combination of reasoning and common
  sense

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Characteristics of the Scientific Method

• Objectivity
• Empirical observation quantifiable measurements
• Confirmation of Findings
• Replication Others can repeat procedures to
  confirm original results
• Peer Review Process by which a paper is
  published after being critiqued by other
  scientists

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Characteristics of the Scientific Method

• Self-Correction
• Errors and faulty reasoning should be corrected
  as they are discovered
• Control
• Accounting for or preventing the effect of
  unwanted factors
• Direct manipulation of factors of major interest
  to determine their effects

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The Research Process

• The Problem

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The Research Process

• The Problem
• Check the Literature

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The Research Process

• The Problem
• Check the Literature
• Formulate Theory
• Theory Formal statement of relationships
• Two Functions
• Organizes empirical observations (Explains)
• Acts as a guide for future observations (Predicts)

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The Research Process

• The Problem
• Check the Literature
• Formulate Theory
• Develop Hypothesis
• Hypothesis
• Prediction stated in such a way that allows
  testing
• Often tests a specific part of a theory

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The Research Process

• The Problem
• Check the Literature
• Formulate Theory
• Develop Hypothesis
• Design Conduct Research Project

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Research Methods

• Nonexperimental Methods
• Archival research
• Naturalistic observation
• Surveys
• Case studies
• Correlational research
• Experimental Method

• Advantages
• Describe and predict behavior
• Useful when ethical considerations prevent true
  experimentation
• Causality

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Experimentation in a Nutshell

• Variable Event or behavior that can assume at
  least two values
• Independent Variable (IV)
• The variable the experimenter manipulates
• Physiological
• Experience
• Environmental
• Participant characteristics are often treated as
  IVs
• Dependent Variable (DV)
• The variable that is measured
• Can be measured lots of ways
• Number correct
• Frequency
• Amount
• Duration

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Experimental Research

• For an experiment, you need at least two
  conditions
• Treatment condition
• They receive the manipulation you created
• Control condition
• They do not receive your manipulation

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Manipulation, Comparison,and Control
Manipulate
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Manipulation, Comparison, and Control
Compare
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Manipulation, Comparison, and Control
Control
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Manipulation, Comparison, and Control
Control
Extraneous Variables
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The Research Process

• The Problem
• Check the Literature
• Formulate Theory
• Develop Hypothesis
• Design Conduct Research Project
• Analyze Data, Interpret Results

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The Research Process

• The Problem
• Check the Literature
• Formulate Theory
• Develop Hypothesis
• Design Conduct Research Project
• Analyze Data, Interpret Results
• Modify Theory in Light of Findings

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The Research Process

• The Problem
• Check the Literature
• Formulate Theory
• Develop Hypothesis
• Design Conduct Research Project
• Analyze Data, Interpret Results
• Modify Theory in Light of Findings
• New Problem!