PSYC 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 30: Scientific Method
17 May 2018
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PSYC 1010 Lecture 30 Notes
Introduction
Research Strategies: How Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions
• Most people do not suffer from unrealistically low self-esteem, and high self-esteem is
not all good
• Opposites tend not to attract
• In each of these instances and more, what scientists have learned is not what is widely
believed.
• Psychological science can also identify effective policies.
• To deter crime, should we invest money in lengthening prison sentences or increase the
likelihood of arrest?
• To help people recover from a trauma, should counselors help them relive it, or not?
• To increase voting, should we tell people about the low turnout problem, or emphasize
that their peers are voting?
• Whe put to critical thikig’s test—and contrary to common practice—the second
option in each case wins (Shafir, 2013).
• Psychologists arm their scientific attitude with the scientific method
• A self-correcting process for evaluating ideas with observation and analysis
• In its attempt to describe and explain human nature, psychological science welcomes
hunches and plausible-sounding theories.
• And it puts them to the test.
• If a theory works—if the data support its predictions—so much the better for that
theory
• If the predictions fail, the theory will be revised or rejected.
• How do theories advance psychological science?
• I eerda coersatio, e ofte use theor to ea ere huch.
• “oeoe ight, for eaple, discout eolutio as ol a theor
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