PSYB32H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Abnormal Psychology, Mental Disorder, Statistical Significance
Document Summary
Science is the pursuit of systematized knowledge through observation. Important for scientific observations and explanations to be testable (open to systematic probes) and reliable (replicable) Statements, theories, and assertions must be testable in the public arena and subject to disproof. What is observed must be replicable, it must occur under prescribed circumstances repeatedly. A theory is a set of propositions meant to explain a class of phenomena. Important in guiding research by suggesting that certain additional data be collected. Primary goal of science is to advance in theories to account for data, by proposing cause- effect relationships; results of empirical research allow the adequacy of theories to be evaluated. Theory permits the generation of hypothesis, expectations about what should occur if a theory is true, to be tested in research. Aspects too seldom mentioned are the creativity of the act and the excitement of finding a novel way to conceptualize things.
