PSYC-1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Informed Consent, Hand Washing, Confirmation Bias
27 Jul 2013
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Document Summary
Uses scientific method- can be used to study an aspect of the natural world. Humans are a part of this world therefore psychology is a science. Principle of falsifiability (we should be happy when our theories are falsified). Basic assumption: events are governed by some lawful order- determinism. Much of psych assumes determinism since to be scientific (finding cause and effect) means identifying determining causes. Determinism conflicts with our subjective experience of choice. A compromise position first proposed by william james. Behaviour is seen as determined to an extent, but in the absence of compulsion, people have a degree of choice and freedom. Non-experimental methods describes behaviour but do not let us identify the causes or reason for the behaviour. Non-experimental does not mean not scientific; common misuse of the term experiment. Case study method- study of particularly unique or extreme cases (genie) used when large number of subjects are not available.
