PSY 362 Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: Behaviorism, Operationalization, Physicalism

• School: West Chester University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 362
• Professor: Azorlosa

Document Summary

Positivism: the belief that science should study only those objects or events that can be experienced directly; all speculation about abstract entities should be avoided. Logical positivism: the philosophy of science according to which theoretical concepts are admissible if they are tied to the observable world through operational definitions. Observational terms: terms that refer to empirical events. Theoretical terms: attempt to explain that which is observed. Logical positivists in no way reduced importance of empirical observation. Ultimate authority for logical positivists was empirical observation and theories were considered useful only if they helped explain what was observed. Logical positivism allowed more complex forms of behaviorism to emerge. Operational definition: definition that relates an abstract concept. Operationalism: belief that all abstract scientific concepts should to the procedures used to measure it be operationally defined.