e xperimental p sychology and the s cientific m ethod psy105 - experimental psychology chapter 1
DESCRIPTION
P SYCHOLOGY IS A S CIENCE ! Science = Content and Process Psychology is the science of behavior, thus it relies on scientific methodology and techniques in gathering data about, and analyzing behavior. These processes vary form surveys, to therapy sessions, to laboratory experimentationsTRANSCRIPT
EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Psy105 - Experimental Psychology Chapter 1
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES Understand why we rely on scientific
methods rather than common sense to explain.
Learn the principles of the scientific method Learn the basic tools of psychological
research Understand how “cause and effect” is
established by experimentation
PSYCHOLOGY IS A SCIENCE! Science = Content and Process Psychology is the science of behavior, thus it
relies on scientific methodology and techniques in gathering data about, and analyzing behavior.
These processes vary form surveys, to therapy sessions, to laboratory experimentations
Aside from science, where do we get knowledge from?
Philosophy Folk wisdom Common sense
WHY SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY? Because commonsense, though very useful,
is not enough. Limitations of commonsense:
Contradicting at times Gathered from small samples of behavior Might be biased Generally unreliable
WHERE DO COMMONSENSE KNOWLEDGE COME FROM?
Seemingly credible and trustworthy sources People we like, respect, or admire Our own observations and interaction with
others
Upon believing something, we tend to notice things that confirm our beliefs more than those that disconfirm it.
NONSCIENTIFIC INFERENCES Traits, traits, traits
Ay nadapa…Lampa! Stereotyping
Basta kulot…. Poor calculations of the probability
Na-fi-feel ko…tatama tayo sa Lotto! Overconfidence bias
I’m super sure!
CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN SCIENCE
THE SCIENTIFIC MENTALITY Behavior must follow a natural order;
therefore, it can be predicted. Faith in an organized universe is essential to
science. Determinism
GATHERING EMPIRICAL DATA Describing the Universe’s order requires
collecting empirical data – data that are observable or experienced.
SEEKING GENERAL PRINCIPLES Data gathered should be organized through
principles, such as laws or theories. Theories pull together or unify diverse sets of
scientific facts into an organizing theme.
GOOD THINKING Collection and interpretation of date should
be systematic, objective, and rational. Openness to new ideas Follow the rules of logic Parsimony – When 2 explanations are
equally defensible, the simplest explanation is preferred until it is ruled out by conflicting data.
SELF-CORRECTION Acceptance of the uncertainty conclusions Change is an important part of scientific
progress Theories are best tested through attempts at
falsification, not verification Modus tollens – we can never really prove
that a statement is true, we can only prove that it is false.
PUBLISHING RESULTS Science has become a highly public activity Continuous exchange of information and
incorporation of findings is vital to the scientific process
REPLICATION We should be able to repeat our procedures
and get the same result. It gives us more confidence in our findings.
OBJECTIVES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE (SCIENTIFIC METHOD)
DESCRIPTION The initial step Information about what the behavior is like Systematic and unbiased account of the
observed characteristics of behaviors
PREDICTION The capability of knowing in advance when a
certain behavior would be expected to occur, because we have identified other conditions with which the behavior is linked or associated.
EXPLANATION To be able to understand what caused a
behavior. Knowledge of the conditions that produced
the behavior.
CONTROL Application of what has been learned about
the behavior Use of knowledge to effect change or
improve behavior Applied research
TOOLS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
OBSERVATION Systematic noting and recording of events Events that are observable, or at least their
observable signs This system should be used consistently in
any given research Must be objective
MEASUREMENT The assignment of numerical values to
observed objects or events according to conventional rules
Should also be used consitently
EXPERIMENTATION Undertaken to test a testable prediction – a
Hypothesis How a particular behavioral event will occur
in certain, specifiable situations Involves manipulation of a setting
SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
THE ANTECEDENT CONDITION Explanation = specifying the antecedent
conditions of an event or behavior Circumstances that come before the event or
behavior
XYZ Helping XYZ ? XYD ?
COMPARING TREATMENT CONDITIONS Treatments – Manipulated specific sets of
antecedent conditions Different groups of participants are exposed
to different treatments so as to compare the effects of varying antecedents
THE PSYCHOLOGY EXPERIMENT A controlled procedure in which at least two
different treatment conditions are applied to two identical groups of subjects.
The resulting behaviors are them measured and compared to test the hypothesis about the effects of the treatment conditions
Careful control; other explanations should be ruled out.
THE PSYCHOLOGY EXPERIMENT
Treatment 1(Hypothesiz
ed Antecedent)
Group 2Group 1
Treatment 2(A Neutral
Antecedent)
Behavior Behavior
THE PSYCHOLOGY EXPERIMENT
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Control Group
Experimental Group
ESTABLISHING CAUSE AND EFFECT Only true experiment allows us to make
causal statements Temporal relationship – a time difference
holds in the relationship; the cause precede the effect
ACTIVITY Hypothetically design a simple experiment Should be:
Psychological Testable/feasible Variables are measurable Ethical
ACTIVITY Present the following:
Your educated guess Observational or theoretical basis for the guess Characteristics of the sample Treatment Conditions (IV and neutral) Behavior or event to be measured (DV) Diagram