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The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method. Defined by its way of thinking Gathering information systematically Developing theories rationally Testing hypotheses empirically Characterized by skeptical and critical thinking Science of Psychology The systematic, objective study of behavior

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The Scientific Method

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  1. The Scientific Method • Defined by its way of thinking • Gathering information systematically • Developing theories rationally • Testing hypotheses empirically • Characterized by skeptical and critical thinking • Science of Psychology • The systematic, objective study of behavior • Knowledge based on research not common sense, folk lore, etc. • Goals are to describe, predict, and explain behavior Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

  2. The Scientific Method • Deals only with ideas that can be tested empirically • Must be testable and falsifiable • Pseudoscientific ideas • Ideas that can not be tested empirically • ESP, power of prayer, voodoo, telepathy, astrology, etc. • Does not mean these ideas are not “true” • Just that they can not be tested using scientific method Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

  3. Superstition Chance; coincidence Tenacity Old ideas; status quo Intuition Gut feeling Authority Because they said so Rationalism Logical reasoning Empiricism Observational learning Science Both rationalism & empiricism Ways of Knowing Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

  4. Scientific Thinking • Inductive reasoning • from specificinstance to the general theory • Deductive reasoning • from general theory to predict specific instances Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

  5. Theories in Science • Theories • Explain complex phenomena • Organize data and help predict new data • Hypotheses • Predictions derived from theories or observations • Are testable & falsifiable • Science develops theories through • Inductive logic • Generating hypotheses via deductive logic • Verifying empirically those predictions Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

  6. Observation and Inference • Facts • Events that can be observed • behaviors • Constructs • Inferred from observations • Constructed to explain the observations • Intelligence, mood, personality, motivation, etc. Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

  7. Research Phases • Generate and refine an idea or question to study • Design your study • Collect your data • Analyze your data • Interpret & communicate your results Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

  8. Generate and Refine Ideas • Ideas come from many places • Your own interests • The research and theories of others • Is your idea logical? • What does your idea predict? • Would your findings add to the existing body of knowledge? Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

  9. Design Your Study • Develop your research hypotheses • Define the variables • Decide how to measure the variables • Operational definitions • Plan each step in the research project • Consider ethical issues that may be related to your study Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

  10. Collecting Your Data • The main activity of scientific research • The earlier phases were the planning • The later phases will evaluate and interpret the findings • The data gathered during this phase will test the hypotheses you developed • Reject the Null hypothesis Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

  11. Analyzing Your Data • Involves using statistical procedures • Description and inference • The statistical procedures are actually selected in the design phase • Selection of statistics • Depends on the questions asked • Depends on the type of data collected Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

  12. Interpret & Communicate • Interpretation & Discussion • Statistical findings • Test your research hypotheses • Consider other interpretations of the data • Strengths & weaknesses of your study • Future research directions • Many ways to make research public • Conference presentations • Publishing in journals or books Dr.Launius Psy 1191 Adapted from Graziano & Raulin (2004)

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