PSYC 2030 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2, 3, 6: Scientific Method, Behaviorism, Histogram

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2030
• Professor: Michael Pettit

Document Summary

Chapter 2: research in psychology (cid:858)doi(cid:374)g ps(cid:455)(cid:272)holog(cid:455)(cid:859) i(cid:374)(cid:448)ol(cid:448)es e(cid:454)a(cid:373)i(cid:374)i(cid:374)g aspe(cid:272)ts of (cid:373)e(cid:374)tal life & thei(cid:396) i(cid:373)pa(cid:272)t o(cid:374) (cid:271)eha(cid:448)io(cid:396). This examination take 1 of 4 forms: description, understanding & mapping out patterns in phenomena, prediction, work out precursors & consequences of phenomena, explanation, understand why phenomena occur, application, use knowledge to address relevant issues in the world. Scientific method: procedure for acquiring & testing knowledge through systematic observation or experimentation. Empirical method: procedure for obtaining information on the basis of observations. Two important purposes that a theory serves: should be capable of accounting for multiple facts. It should allow researchers to generate predictions about what will happen in novel situations. Purpose of most research is to test these using scientific methods. Hypothesis: statement about the causal relationship between particular phenomena. Usually derived from particular theory & designed to be tested in research. Theory: system to explanation used to make sense of & integrate a number of empirical findings.