PSYC 2000 Lecture : PSYCHOLOGY Week 2
Document Summary
Scientific method is a system for reducing bias and error in the measurement of data. Used in psychology to accomplish the goals of description, explanation, prediction, and control. Confirmation bias- tendency to notice, seek out, and interpret information in a way consistent with your prior beliefs. Having a hypothesis about an underlying truth. You want to disconfirm your hypothesis without bias. You can"t only seek out info that confirms your hypothesis. Unforced, natural behavior is observed in a typical environment. Watching animals or people in an artificial, but controlled setting. Study of one individual in great detail. May be the only way to study some phenomena. Phineas gage- pole through the head, somewhat normal after. Hm- severe amnesia, hippocampus removed, amnesia worsened. Sm- brain damage from genetic disorder, compromised amygdala, could not experience fear. Small variations in wording or order of questions can affect outcomes. Representative sample: randomly selected sample of subjects for a larger population.
