PSYCO104 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Naturalistic Observation, Observer-Expectancy Effect, Scientific Method

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCO104
• Professor: Michele Moscicki

Document Summary

Curiosity, skepticism, and open-mindedness are driving forces behind scientific inquiry. Theory set of formal statements that explain how and why certain events are related. Hypothesis falsifiable prediction made by a theory. The goal is to create a useful theory (an organized set of principles: helps simplify/order myriad facts about aspects of the world, serves as a coherent explanation, should allow testable predictions. Implies a guess or a hunch that is not supports by evidence. Scientific theories are well-substantiated, well-supported, well- documented explanations for our observations. Scientific laws can describe, but only theories can explain. May reveal relationships between variables can guide future research by generation hypothesis. Components: independent variable: factor of interest manipulated by experimenter (cause: experimental group: receive manipulated level of independent variable, control group: receive normal levels, dependent variable: factor measured by experimenter (effect, all extraneous factors are controlled or held constant. Both groups must be identical is all other ways.