The Science of Psychology

What is something you believe to be true? How did you arrive at that belief? 2

3 Ways to Acquire Knowledge Tenacity  Acceptance of knowledge because it has been repeated Authority  Acceptance of knowledge from authorities

4 Ways to Acquire Knowledge Reason and Logic  Start with an assumptionassumption  Logically deduce consequences based on that assumption Experience  Gaining knowledge through direct experience  Empiricism

5 Ways to Acquire Knowledge Science  Way of thinking about and observing the universe to learn truth  Determinism  Discoverability How does science solve the problems associated with other ways of acquiring knowledge?

6 Characteristics of the Scientific Method Objectivity  Empirical observation; quantifiable measurements Confirmation of Findings  Replication: Others can repeat procedures to confirm original results  Peer Review: Process by which a paper is published after being critiqued by other scientists

7 Characteristics of the Scientific Method Self-Correction  Errors and faulty reasoning should be corrected as they are discovered  Falsifiability Control  Accounting for or preventing the effect of unwanted factors  Direct manipulation of factors of major interest to determine their effects

Pseudoscience Associates with true science Anecdotal evidence Sidesteps disproof Reductionistic 8

9 Research Methods Nonexperimental Methods:  Archival research  Naturalistic observation  Surveys  Case studies  Correlational research Experimental Method Advantages Describe and predict behavior Useful when ethical considerations prevent true experimentation Causality

10 Experimentation in a Nutshell Variable: Variable: Event or behavior that can assume at least two values Independent Variable (IV)  The variable the experimenter manipulates Physiological Experience Environmental Participant characteristics are often treated as IVs Dependent Variable (DV)  The variable that is measured Can be measured lots of ways:  Number correct  Frequency  Amount  Duration

11 Experimental Research For an experiment, you need at least two conditions:  Treatment condition They receive the manipulation you created  Control condition They do not receive your manipulation

12 Manipulation, Comparison, and Control IV Music No Music DV Heart Rate