Experimental Psychology and Scientific Method

• In psychology experiments, we control extraneous variables so we that we can measure “what we intend to measure.”
• In stereotyping, we falsely assume that specific behaviors cluster together.
• This approach uses nonscientific sources of data and nonscientific inference.

  commonsense psychology.
• Nonscientific source of data are data that we gathered from sources that we deem credible and trustworthy.
• Observation is the systematic noting and recording of events.
• What the researcher found was that children exposed to the aggressive model were more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior towards the doll themselves, while the other groups showed little imitative aggressive behavior.

  the bobo doll experiment
• Applied research addresses real-world problems like how to improve student graduation rates.
• Nonscientific inference is the nonscientific use of information to explain or predict behavior.
• A theory is an interim explanation; a set of related statements used explain and predict phenomena.
• The use of knowledge to effect change or improve

  behavior.
• The use of knowledge to effect change or improve

  behavior.

  control
• It is a process undertaken to test a hypothesis that particular behavioral events will occur reliably in specifiable situations.

  experimentation
• Non-scientific Sources of Data

  1. intuition
  2. common sense
  3. authority
  4. tradition
• In the gambler’s fallacy, people misuse data to estimate the probability of an event, like when a slot machine will pay off.
• A branch of Psychology that focuses on conducting systematic and controlled experiments to study human behavior and cognition.

  experimental psychology
• Data are the facts we gather using scientific methods.
• The principle of parsimony is that we prefer the simplest useful explanation.
• Data are empirical when observed or experienced.
• Common sense or personal beliefs are not a valid or reliable basis for making good classroom decisions.
• Basic research tests theories and explains psychological phenomena like helping behavior.
• It is a process of objectively establishing facts through testing and experimentation.

  scientific method
• Demonstrated that classical conditioning—the association of a particular stimulus or behavior with an unrelated stimulus or behavior—works in human beings

  the little albert expirement
• Alfred North Whitehead’s scientific mentality assumes that behavior follows a natural order and can be predicted.
• Non-scientific data gathering that shapes our expectations and beliefs and directs our behavior toward others.

  commonsense psychology
• It is a situation in which a gambler believes that a string of past events will change the probability of future events are occurring.

  gambler's fallacy
• Systematic means that the procedures are consistently applied.
• Science connotes content and process.
• Whenever he gave food to his dogs, he also rang a bell. After a number of repeats of this procedure, he tried the bell on its own. What he found was that the bell on its own now caused an increase in salivation.
• Whenever he gave food to his dogs, he also rang a bell. After a number of repeats of this procedure, he tried the bell on its own. What he found was that the bell on its own now caused an increase in salivation.

  pavlov's dog experiment
• Systematic and unbiased account of the observed characteristics of behaviors

  description
• Data are also empirical if they can be verified or disproved through investigation.
• Methodology consists of the scientific techniques we use to collect and evaluate data.
• 3 minimum requirements for an experimentation must be met

  1. We must have procedures for manipulating the setting
  2. The predicted outcome must be observable.
  3. We must be able to measure the outcome.
• Experimentation must also be objective.
• Measurement assigns numbers to objects, events, or their characteristics. This is an inherent feature of quantitative research.
• the capacity for knowing in advance certain behaviors because we have identified other conditions with which the behaviors are linked or associated

  prediction
• It is concerned with testing theories of human thoughts, emotions, activities.

  experimental psychology
• This series of experiments proved that the ability to delay gratification was critical for success in life.

  the marshmallow test
• We engage in good thinking when data collection and interpretation are systematic, objective, and rational.

  good thinking
• John B Watson: Conditioning

  the little albert experiment