1. Scientific methods in psychology Why we have confidence in the principles of contemporary psychology

2. It all starts with: A problem, A problem, Or a question, or Or a question, or Maybe just an observation. Maybe just an observation.

3. gathering and evaluating evidence Universally accepted format Universally accepted format Hypothesis - a testable prediction Hypothesis - a testable prediction Will exposure to violent video cause children to be more aggressive? Will exposure to violent video cause children to be more aggressive? Will phonics training help young children read better? Will phonics training help young children read better? Will watching Sportscenter with your boyfriend lead him to watch the Notebook with you? Will watching Sportscenter with your boyfriend lead him to watch the Notebook with you?

4. Testing or Methods Watch ? – Naturalistic Observation Watch ? – Naturalistic Observation Ask questions? – Survey Ask questions? – Survey Look for relationships? – Correlations Look for relationships? – Correlations Uncover causation – Experiments Uncover causation – Experiments

5. Draw Conclusions What did you find? What did you find? How do you interpret it? How do you interpret it?

6. peer review & replication peer review & replication If other researchers follow your method to investigate your hypothesis, will they get the same results? If other researchers follow your method to investigate your hypothesis, will they get the same results? If they do, the hypothesis has been replicated – confirmed, leading to more confidence in it. If they do, the hypothesis has been replicated – confirmed, leading to more confidence in it. If they don’t, confidence in the hypothesis is diminished. If they don’t, confidence in the hypothesis is diminished.