PSYCH 3100 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Falsifiability, Statistic, Statistical Parameter
Document Summary
What is the definition of a theory: a formalized set of concepts that summarize and organizes observations and inferences, provides tentative explanations for phenomena, and provides the bases for making predictions, produced after testing hypotheses, testable. Must make specific predictions that can be tested empirically. It must be possible to contradict the predictions using empirical evidence: falsifiable, parsimonious, reliable, valid. What is the definition of a model: type of theory, verbal, mathematical, or visual representation of a scientific structure or process, miniature representation of reality, they are simplified representations of phenomena, generate accurate predictions. What is the difference between a theory and a model: model, theory, statistical representations of reality, y = mx+b, more concerned with explanations, larger concepts, i think that . What does it mean to say that good theories should be testable, falsifiable, parsimonious, reliable, and valid: you should go through these steps to make sure you have a good and testable hypothesis.
