PSYC 2030 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Scientific Method, Critical Thinking, Determinism
30 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
The scientific method: is used to overcome different kinds of bias. Is objective (is measureable) and uses systematic objective (follows the same steps), everyone sees what the researcher sees, it is replicable. Is the commitment to test knowledge through observation and (if possible) experimentation (textbook definition) Is a set of rules on how to observe things to understand concepts/objects. Is conducted by humans (sometimes there is a bias!) We need to use critical thinking when evaluating science. Critical thinking: in which a person reasons about relevant evidence to draw a sound or good conclusion bensley (2008) Knowledge about the scientific method can make us better critical thinkers. Determinism: things have causes, things happen for a reason (water freezes for a reason, fire burns for a reason etc. ) Discoverability: we can uncover these causes with some degree of confidence. Prediction: when we discover why something happens, we can make predictions about other things.
