CHAPTER 1 Goals and Methods of Science 2005
- Slides: 18
CHAPTER 1 Goals and Methods of Science © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
What is Science? • A system that uses past knowledge and conservative procedures for gaining new knowledge which ultimately advances society. © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Ways of Acquiring Knowledge and Beliefs There are various ways in which we gain knowledge and beliefs. Let’s discuss 5 of them: • • • Tenacity Authority Intuition Rationalism Empiricism © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Characteristics of Science • Scientific Method – A set of conservative and deliberate procedures. – If the scientific method is followed rigorously in a research setting we can be confident in the truth of the research results. – Some key components of the scientific method include: • Rational thinking • Systematic observation © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Characteristics of Science • Science Assumes the Lawfulness of Events – Science assumes that events in the world are lawful and do not occur randomly. – So science believes that if we knew the underlying laws for any event we could predict the event with accuracy. – Discuss the ongoing debate of determinism versus free will. © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Characteristics of Science • Science Asks Empirical Questions – Empirical questions are questions that can be answered through direct or indirect observation. – Answers to empirical questions generate data – Data is factual information, usually in numerical form, that can be used to answer empirical questions and generate new empirical questions. © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Characteristics of Science • Science Applies Controls – Two Features of Control • Conditions in science are set up so they can be deliberately and systematically manipulated. • Conditions of interest are isolated - to the best of our ability - so they are virtually free of unwanted or extraneous influence. © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Characteristics of Science • Science is Objective – Science is not influenced by personal feelings or expectations. • Why is this difficult to achieve? – A research method for dealing with subjective expectations that might influence data is called a “blind” procedure. • Speculate on the meaning of single-blind and double-blind procedures. © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Characteristics of Science • Science is Self-Correcting – Because new research in science generally builds on previous scientific research, errors rarely get propagated. • Replication: Sometimes, when results are controversial, scientists will perform the exact same controversial research to verify the results. If the results are not verified they are corrected. – More often scientist perform variants of the original research to build upon existing knowledge. If the new results don’t support the original results the existing knowledge may be corrected. © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Performing Scientific Research 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Identify Ideas to Test Design Scientific Test Procedures Observe and Collect Data Analyze and Interpret Data Communicate The Results © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
What is Pseudoscience? • Pseudoscience is a system of knowledge and methods that loosely resembles science and people mistakenly view as science. – Why do people believe in pseudoscience? • Partly because of intuition, tenacity, and authority. • But mostly because people generally don’t think in a scientific manner. © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
How to Identify Pseudoscience? • The “Trappings” of Science – Pseudoscience tries to be like real science. – Pseudoscience makes predictions about phenomenon, but rarely tests them. • Data is Often Based on Testimonials – Data like this can be easily manipulated. • Evasion of Disproof – Explanations given by the pseudoscience to account for data that disprove the pseudoscience are difficult/impossible to test (e. g. , the phenomenon can’t be measure by conventional means) © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Research Goals and Strategies: The Basics • Theories – Networks of plausible, organized, and logical principles and facts that attempt to explain the connections between various events. – Theories have 3 functions: 1. Explain phenomenon 2. Organize exist knowledge 3. Make prediction that can be tested © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Theories • Good Theories 1. Organize concepts well 2. Are parsimonious (simple and easy to comprehend) 3. Make clear and testable predictions (principle of falsifiability) © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Models • Models are like theories but not as complex and organized. Models provide descriptions of the relationships between a set of variables within the context of a theory. • Sometimes, in research, a model is an analogy or substitution of a given process. For example, there animal models of depression. © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Hypotheses • A hypothesis is a statement, based on a theory, that makes a specific prediction about the outcome of a proposed study. – For example: Participants who receive drug A will have greater pain relief that those who receive a placebo drug. – For example: Females will score higher on a test of intuition than males. © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Goals of Scientific Research • There are 4 main goals of scientific research: 1. Description 2. Prediction 3. Understanding 4. Application © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
Research Strategies • There are 4 main research strategies used in psychological research and covered in detail in the remainder of the text: 1. The Experimental Strategy 2. The Quasi-experimental Strategy 3. The Correlation Strategy 4. The Descriptive Strategy © 2005, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
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