Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Murder Of Kitty Genovese, Operational Definition, Meta-Analysis

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Dr.Mike

Document Summary

Curiosity, scepticism, and open-mindedness are driving forces behind scientific inquiry. Kitty genovese incident diffusion of responsibility: psychological state in which each person feels decreased personal responsibility for intervening; happens with a group of people. Step 2: gather information and form hypothesis try to answer questions using studies, theories, etc that already exist, then create a specific prediction about some phenomenon that often takes form of an if-then statement. Step 3: test hypothesis by conducting research. Step 4: analyze data, draw tentative conclusions, report findings. Most common method we use to try to understand behaviour in our everyday life. Flawed because there may be many possible explanations for behaviour and no way to ascertain which one is correct. Scientists prefer this method what causes what . Even when many successful predictions support a theory, it is never considered absolute truth. Always possible that future research will contradict or replace it (this is the essence of science)