PSYCH 312 1st Edition Lecture 2 Outline of Last Lecture I. Why learn about research methods?II. Ways of understanding or knowinga. Traditionb. Authority c. Common sensed. Reason and logice. Scientific methodOutline of Current Lecture I. Psychology as an empirical scienceII. Goals of psychology as a science III. Characteristics of a good theory IV. Types of scientific designCurrent Lecture-Ways of understanding or knowing IN psychology oTradition oAuthority oCommon sense oReason and logic oScientific method -Reason & logic + systematic observation -This combination means that…-Psychology has roots in philosophy -Psychology is fundamentally empirical -Primary goals of psychology as a science oDescription -Naturalistic observation-Experiment oPrediction-Correlation-experimentoUnderstanding causality -experimentoApplication These 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.oPsych achieves these using the scientific method -Generic steps in the scientific method oMake some causal observations-->-Form a hypothesis-->-Choose a method-->-Use method to test hypothesis using systematic observations-->-Draw conclusions (do results support hypothesis)-->-Develop a theory (or revise or extend support for an existing one)-->-New data lead to additional questions (hypothesis) & more theory development (for refinement) -Psychology as a theoretically driven discipline oWhat is a theory?-A system of interrelated ideas used to explain and understand what we observeoCharacteristics of a good theory…-Falsifiable (i.e., testable)-The theory must be stated in such a way that if tested at least one possible outcome would show its incorrect (false)-Fruitful (i.e., makes accurate/correct predictions)-Has adequate scope (i.e., does not predict all possible outcomes)-Parsimonious (i.e., makes as few assumptions as necessary to explain the observed data)-Conservative (i.e., consistent with already established scientific thinking) (????) -Choose a method (seen in generic steps in scientific method)oType of method depends upon the question asked:-Naturalistic observation -Correlational study -Experiment -Naturalistic observation oNonintrusive description of real-world phenomena -No or minimal researcher interference -No variable manipulation -Simply observe patterns in the real world-Designed to describe rather than explain behavior -Correlational MethodoUsed to determine if there is an association between two variables (i.e., whether the variables covary)-Does knowing something about one variable (x) allow you to predict something about another variable (y) -Types of correlationsoPositive correlation -Variables move in the same direction -Increase together -Decrease together oNegative correlation -Variables move in opposite directions -As one increases the other decreases -Side Note: criteria for causality oCovariation of events/variables-Two events must vary togetheroTime-order relationship -One variable must reliably precede the other oElimination of plausible alternative causes/variables -Experimental method oDirect & systematic manipulation of variablesoUses specific strategies to reduce the possible effect of variables other than those being tested-E.g., random selection, random assignment, matching, ect.oUsed to determine causality between