PSYC 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Canadian Psychological Association, Blind Experiment, Naturalistic Observation

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: Jordan Poppenk

Document Summary

A theory is an idea or conceptual model that is designed to explain existing facts and make prediction about new facts that might be discovered can be supported, rejected or modified based on new evidence. To test a theory- need to generate a hypothesis: a testable prediction about processes that can be observed and measured. A good hypothesis should be able to be disproved. Scientific method focuses on verifiability and objectivity (sometimes referred to empiricism) Any fact or experience must be verifiable meaning it can be replicated. Results should be found consistently by the experimenter or anyone else using the same method reliability. A result is objective if it is based on observable phenomenon and is uninfluenced by emotions or personal points of view. The empirical world- things that are experienced by most individuals in a similar manner. First a research question is refined into a hypothesis.