FRHD 2100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Vasocongestion, Casual Sex, Human Sexual Response Cycle
Document Summary
Empirical: derived or based on observation and experimentation. The scientific method is a systematic way of gathering scientific evidence and testing assumptions through research. It has a number of elements: formulating a research question, framing the research question. Hypothesis: a precise prediction about behaviour that is often derived from theory and is tested through research: testing the hypothesis, drawing conclusions. Describe, explain, predict, and control the events. Descriptions is a basic objective of science. To understand sexual behaviour, for example, we must first be able to describe it. Researchers attempt to relate their observations to other factors, or variables, that can help explain them. Variables: quantities or qualities that vary or may vary. Researchers may attempt to explain varaitions in the frequency of coitus by relating or correlating, coitus with demographic variables. Demographic: concerning the vital statistics (density, rac, age, etc) of human population. Theories provide framewokrs within which scientists can explain what they observe and can make predictions.