Psychology 1000 Lecture 3: Psych September 15th 2014 (Chapter 2).docx

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Ronald R Holden

Document Summary

Apa (american psychological association) is the largest psychological association in the world. Recall that psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and the mind. Science involves gathering and evaluating empirical evidence to answer questions and test ideas about the world: empirical evidence : evidence gained through experience and observation. Observations must be systematic performed consistently, following rules and conditions so that they will be objective. Psychologists are always asking questions related to psychology"s four goals: describe, explain/understand, predict, influence/control. Is there another or better explanation: skepticism, open-mindedness. Follow the evidence wherever it leads us, even if it goes against one"s beliefs. 1: gather information and form hypothesis, hypothesis : a specific prediction. Usually takes if-then statement: test hypothesis through research, analyze data, draw tentative conclusions and report findings, build body of knowledge, conduct further research, and develop new hypothesis, develop theories. Integrate many experimental findings to explain a broad range of observations/behaviours.