PS101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Brother 2, Selection Bias, Hawthorne Effect
Document Summary
The scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior. It"s a set of safeguard against two human tendencies: confirmation bias evidence that doesn"t, belief perseverance. Seek out evidence that supports our hypothesis and deny, dismiss, or distort. To cling to our beliefs despite contrary evidence. Applied: examines how we can use basic research to solve real-world problems. Prediction of the circumstances that lead to the expression of a certain behaviour. Usually the first step in understanding behaviour or mental processes. Researchers try to understand the causes of the behaviour/mental processes. When researchers can specify conditions which will likely cause the behaviour or cognitive process to occur. When researchers can change a condition or manipulate something to bring about desired outcomes. Methods to achieve the goals: naturalistic and laboratory observations. Playground vs big brother: case studies. Special samples (e. g. , genie in linguistic isolation) Locked in a closet from 20 months old; no exposure to language; discovered at age.
