PSY6-L1

• Commonsense Psychology


  non-scientific data gathering that shapes our expectations and beliefs and directs our behavior toward others
• Non-scientific Sources of Data

  Confirmation Bias

  Myths

  Superstitions

  Pop Psychology
• Non-scientific Inferences

  Stereotyping

  Overconfidence Bias
• The Scientific Mentality


  "Behavior must follow an order, therefore it can be predicted."
• Gathering Empirical Data


  Should be observable and can be experienced.

  Can be verified or disproven through investigation or research.
• Seeking General Principles

  Scientific data should be organized and structured in a way that scientists can postulate theories, or laws.
• The Characteristics of Modern Science

  1. The Scientific Mentality

  2. Gathering Empirical Data

  3. Seeking General Principles
• Good Thinking


  Scientists should avoid private beliefs or expectations influence observation or conclusions.

  Includes being open to new ideas, even when it contradict our prior beliefs or attitudes.
• Follows Rules of Logic :

  Parsimony


  choose the simplest scientific explanation that fits the evidence
• Self-Correction


  Content of science changes as we acquire more scientific information.

  Old information are reevaluated in light of new facts.
• Publicizing Reports


  Scientific world and its information is open to the public. It would do little good if a scientist choose to isolate himself and his or her studies.
• Replication


  Findings that are obtained by only one researcher have a very limited scientific value.

  Experimentations and finding should be able to be replicated and be able to gain the same result as previous experiment or research.
• Description

  Explanation

  Prediction

  Control


  The Objectives of Psychological Science
• Applied Research


  research designed to solve real-world problems
• Basic Research


  research used to test hypothesis or theories
• Observation, Measurement, Experimentation


  Tools of Psychological Science
• Observation


  Systematic noting and recording of events.
• Measurement


  Assignment of numerical values to objects or events or their characteristics according to conventional rules.
• Experimentation


  Process undertaken to test a hypothesis that particular behavioral events will occur reliably in certain specificable situations.

  Must be objective.

  Must be ethical.
• Scientific Explanation in Psychological Science


  1. Identifying Antecedent Conditions

  2. Comparing Treatment Conditions

  3. The Psychology Experiment

  4. Establishing Cause and Effect

  5. Necessary vs. Sufficient Conditions
• Wilhem Wundt (1832-1926)

  • credited with being the first experimental psychologist
  • He employed the tools of Scientific Method to study human experience.
• • Until 1800s psychology did not emerge as an experimental science
• • Leipzig, Germany, on 1879 birth of psychological science is usually dated from the opening of his laboratory