PSYCH 312 1st Edition Lecture 1 Outline of Last Lecture I. NoneOutline of Current Lecture I. Why learn about research methods?II. Ways of understanding or knowinga. Traditionb. Authority c. Common sensed. Reason and logice. Scientific methodCurrent Lecture-Why learn about research methods?oSatisfy a degree requirement -Psychology is a scientific disciplineoSatisfy your own curiosities oLearn to think critically and evaluate claims for yourself -What do you believe?-Who do you believe?-Who do you believe it?oBecome a researcher-Preparation for graduate school or immediate employment-Ways of understanding or knowing oTradition (tenacity)-Explanations that exist for years must be true -Example: astrology, palm reading, graphology, psychics get credibility because they use strategies that we aren't naturally good problem solvers, appear to be believable -WRONG!- the longevity of an idea is not evidence of its truthoAuthority (dogma)-An authority figure tells me its true-WRONG!-experts can be untruthful biased or just plain incorrectoCommon sense (intuition)-My personal experience tells me its true -WRONG-problems with our thinking may trip us up-STAY OR SWITCH DEMOThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.-Results to the rules of probability -There is a greater probability of selecting the winning envelop by switchingoReason & logic-The rules of logic tell me that only correct conclusions can follow from correct premise statements-An example of Reasoning/logic -Begin w/ a premise:-"All WS psych majors must take psych 312"-Make an observation-"mike was a WSU psych major"-Draw a conclusion-"therefore mike took psych 312"-NOTE: this conclusion is correct ONLY if the premise from which it is derived is correct-But how do we know if or premise is correct?-Another example of reason/logic?-Of the 2 containers shown here, which contains the greatest volume -Typical 4 yr old says "one on the right that’s taller"-Premise: "tall means more"oScientific method-Reason & logic + Systematic observation -Reason & logic-Allows us to more logically from premises to conclusions-Systematic observation -Holds truth to an objective standard by testing/evaluating our assumptions