PSYC 102 Chapter 2-2: Chapter 2 Textbook Note
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PSYC 102 Full Course Notes
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Dogmatists thought best way to understand illness was to develop theories about the body functions: today its used to describe the tendency for people to cling to their assumptions, belief . Empiricism best way to understand illness was to observe sick people: today its used to describe the belief that accurate knowledge can be acquired through observation, experience , essential element of the scientific method. The scientific method a procedure for finding the truth by using empirical evidence. Theory a hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon. Rules of parsimony the simplest theory that explains all the evidence is the best one. Hypothesis a falsifiable prediction made by a theory: word falsifiable is critical part of definition. The scientific method suggests that the best way to learn the truth is to develop theories, derive hypotheses from them, test those hypotheses by gathering evidence and then use that evidence to modify the theories.
