PSY-P 155 Chapter 2: Psych 155 ch-2 (Psychology Scientific Method)
Document Summary
A theory is a system of ideas that attempts to explain observations and make predictions about future observations. Scientific theories are rejected, or supported, or refined using the scientific method. Observe some phenomenon: curiosity & critical thinking, formulate or challenge a theory, hypothese (is an educated guess that derives logically from a theory. It is an expectation that can be tested. Formulate hypotheses and predictions testable prediction: derived from theory, test. Test through empirical research: operational definition of variables specify concepts in terms of measurements, analyze data using statistical procedures operational definition- in order to observe something, we must define what that something is. Intelligence might be defined as performance on a psychological test: conclusion. Draw conclusions replication of results reliability: evaluate. Evaluate the theory change the theory: peer review and publication, meta-analysis. Peer review protects the field from biased and poorly designed research. Meta-analysis helps detect a convergence of evidence from multiple studies.
