Scientific Method

Empirical Terms Operational Definition: A definition of a variable that allows it to be concretely measured. A variable is an Abstract Concept It must be translated into a Concrete Form so it can be measured and studied empirically Helps to successfully communicate ideas to others Often a variety of measures are used Independent Variable: What the experimenter manipulates The “cause” of the experiment It is “independent” of all other variables Dependent Variable: What the experimenter measures The “effect” of the experiment It “depends” on the Independent Variable

Scientific Approaches of Physiological Psychology Somatic Intervention alter body (soma) and then record behavior changes Behavioral Intervention alter behavior and then record body (brain) changes Correlation determine the relationship between body measures and behavioral measures

Physiological Psychology Levels of Investigation Social Individual System Cellular Molecular

A Tip for You: How Memory Works Step 2 Step 1 Step 3 Retrieval