PSY100H1 Chapter 2: Psy100, Chapter2
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PSY100H1 Full Course Notes
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A theory is a model of interconnected ideas and concepts that explains what is observed and makes predictions about future events. A hypothesis is a specific prediction of what should be observed in the world if a theory is correct. The hypothesis serves as a direct test of the theory by collecting objective data. If the research is done in absolute objective means, the same result should be reached as long as the experiment is repeated properly. An experiment is defined as a study wherein variables are both measured and manipulated with the investigator having maximal control over the situation. The benefit of experiments is that they allow causal relationship between two variables to be studied. However experiment suffers from that they are often set in artificial environment. The more control, the more causality is ensured and confound variables eliminated. Confound is anything affecting a dependent variable that may unintentionally vary between replications of the experiment.
