1. BHS 204-01 Methods in Behavioral Sciences I April 4, 2003 Chapter 1 – What is Science?

2. Science as a Way of Knowing  Science limits itself to solvable problems: It may not be the best way to answer some questions (e.g., what is the meaning of life?).  Science is one way of knowing, but not the only way. Other ways are used in: Art Literature Philosophy Religion

3. Some Other Ways of Knowing  Tenacity – acceptance of traditional knowledge. Accuracy may not ever be examined. No means for correcting erroneous information.  Authority – deferring judgment to another source who is more expert or knowledgeable. Authority can be incorrect. The basis for authority must be examined.

4. More Ways of Knowing  Reason and logic – basic methods of philosophy. Original assumptions must be correct. How do you test the accuracy of assumptions?  Common sense – based on past experience and perceptions of the world. Can be influenced by biases of various kinds. Less helpful when we encounter new situations. Truth can be counter-intuitive.

5. What is Science?  Like common sense, science is based on experience.  Unlike common sense, the experience must be public, available to anyone – not personal. Other people must be able to repeat the observations of any scientist -- replication.  Science is a self-correcting process. Logic is combined with observation to rule out incorrect assumptions and correct mistakes.

6. Newton’s Rules  Law of parsimony – natural events should be explained in the simplest way possible.  The same effects will have the same causes -- nature functions the same way everywhere.  Experimental results can be generalized.  Theories are true until contradicted by evidence, not alternative but untested hypotheses.

7. Table 1.1. (p. 15)

8. Studying Internal Experience  Self-report  Judgments – psychophysics studies of color perception.  Inferences from behavior.  Marker variables – observation of an event that occurs along with a studied process. Rapid eye movements during dreaming. Electrodermal activity (GSR).

9. Behavioral Sciences  Psychology and sociology are both behavioral sciences because they use the scientific method to answer questions.  The actual research techniques used in each field depend on the kind of question to be answered, not the field of study.  Building a large repertoire of research skills permits any researcher to answer more kinds of questions.