Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF BEHAVIOR CHAPTER 1 SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF BEHAVIOR

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain the reasons for understanding research methods Describe the scientific approach to learning about behavior, and contrast it with pseudoscientific research

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Define and give examples of the four goals of scientific research: description, prediction, determination of cause, and explanation of behavior Define and describe basic and applied research

USES OF RESEARCH METHODS Increasingly important in public policy and judicial decisions Important when developing and assessing the effectiveness of goal oriented programs

USES OF RESEARCH METHODS Informed citizens increasingly need knowledge of research methods Many occupations require the use of research findings

THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH Limitations of Intuition Intuition relies unquestioningly on personal judgment Involves cognitive and motivational biases Erroneous conclusions about cause and effect Example: Illusory correlation

THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH Examples of Authority News media Books Government officials Religious figures

THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH Limitations of Authority Many believe statements based on authority; scientific approach rejects this notion and requires much more evidence before conclusions can be drawn

THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH Skepticism, Science, and the Empirical Approach Empiricism Falsifiability Peer review Integrating Intuition, Skepticism, and Authority

Elements of Goodstein’s Evolved Theory of Science Observations accurately reported to others + Search for discovery and verification of ideas Open exchange and competition among ideas Peer review of research

THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH Characteristics of pseudoscience Hypotheses generated are not typically testable If scientific tests are reported, methodology is not scientific and validity of data is questionable Supportive evidence is anecdotal and does not cite scientific references Claims ignore conflicting evidence Claims tend to be vague, and appeal to pre-conceived ideas Claims are never revised

GOALS OF SCIENCE Description of Behavior Prediction of Behavior Determining the Causes of Behavior Temporal precedence Covariation of the cause and effect Alternative explanations Explanation of Behavior

BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH Basic Research Fundamental questions about the nature of behavior - Theoretical issues often concern basic phenomena such as cognition, emotion, motivation, learning, psychobiology, personality development, and social behavior.

BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH Conducted to address issues in which there are practical problems and potential solutions. Program evaluation

BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH Comparing Basic and Applied Research Neither is considered superior to the other Applied research is often guided by theories and findings of basic research Findings in applied settings often require modification of existing theories and spur more basic research Basic research is crucial to public policy