PSY 301 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Falsifiability, Empiricism
Document Summary
Chapter 1: psychology is a way of thinking. Scientists conduct studies to decide how humans work. Producers are the ones that create studies, and consumers are the ones that read it. Consumers have to know how to randomly assign people to groups, how to measure attitudes correctly, and interpret results. Most of this is graduate school, but sometimes it can be undergraduate school. Most psychology majors become consumers of research. Most professionals are required to know research behind evidence-based treatments. Being able to read and evaluate research allows people to make better choices. Empiricism involves using evidence from the senses or from instruments that assist senses as the basis for conclusions. Aim to be systematic, rigorous and make their work independently verifiable by other observers. Collect data to test, change, or update theories. Asking questions, finding the answers, asking more questions. Harlow found that baby monkeys prefer cloth mothers that are comforting to wire mothers that have food.
