PSYA01H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Biopsychosocial Model, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Pseudoscience
Document Summary
Psychology: the scientific study of behavior, thought and experience, and how they can be affected by physical, mental, social and environmental factors. Scientific method: a way of learning about the world through collecting observations, developing theories to explain them and using the theories to make predictions. This involves a dynamic interaction between hypothesis testing and the construction of theories. Biopsychosocial model: explaining behavior as a product of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Critical thinking: involves exercising curiosity and skepticism when evaluating the claims of others, and with our own assumptions and beliefs. Core set of habits and skills for developing critical thinking: Examine the nature and source of the evidence; not all research is of equal quality. Hypothesis: a testable prediction about processes that can be observed and measured. Pseudoscience: an idea that is presented as science but does not actually utilize basic principles of scientific thinking or procedure.
