PS270 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Operationalization, Scale-Invariant Feature Transform
Document Summary
It is trivial because it documents the obvious. It is dangerous because its findings could be used to manipulate people. One problem with common sense is that we invoke it after we know the facts. Events are far more obvious and predictable in hindsight than beforehand. Hindsight bias is also called the i-knew-it-all-along phenomenon. We easily deceive ourselves into thinking we know and knew more than we do and did. This is why we need science to help us sift reality from illusion and genuine predictions from easy hindsight. Social psychologists propose theories that organize their observations and imply testable hypotheses and practical predictions. To test a hypothesis, social psycholosits may do research that predicts behaviour using correlational studies, often conducted in natural settings. May seek to explain behaviour by conducting experiences that manipulate one of more factors under controlled conditions. Once they have conducted a study, they explore ways to apply their findings to improve people"s lives.
