Chapter 2-1 - Psychology's Scientific Method

Theory

-a broad idea or set of closely related ideas that attempts to explain observations and to make predictions about future observations. -tell us about the relations between variables on a conceptual level.

Hypothesis

-an educated guess that derives logically from a theory. -a prediction that can be tested. -if more and more hypotheses related to the theory turn out to be true, the theory gains in credibility.

Variable

-anything that can change.

STEP 1: Observing some Phenomenon

-sees something in the world and wants to know why or how it is the way it is.

STEP 2: Formulating Hypotheses and Predictions

-to state a hypothesis.

STEP 3: Testing Through Empirical Research

-to test the hypothesis by conducting empirical research (collecting and analyzing data) -researcher needs a concrete way to measure the variables of interest.

Meta-analysis

- A method that allows researchers to combine the results of several different studies on a similar topic in order to establish the strength of an effect. - allows researchers to estimate the magnitude of the relationship between variables.

STEP 5: Evaluating the Theory

- Once a paper/ scientific journal is published, the community of scientists continues to evaluate it in light of other research.

Operational Definition

- a definition that provides an objective description of how a variable is going to be measured and observed in a particular study. -eliminates the fuzziness when thinking about a problem. - establishing an operational definition ensures that everyone agrees on what a variable mean.^^ -there is not just one operational definition for any variable. -a crucial step in designing psychological research. -our definition of a variable must be set out clearly before we operationally define it.

Data/ Data Analysis

- all the information researches collect in a study. - a key aspect of the process of testing hypotheses is data analysis.

STEP 4: Drawing Conclusions

- based on the results of the data analysis, scientists then draw conclusions from their research. - If the scientific journals with all their research is submitted and judged to be of sufficiently high quality, the paper is published.

Direct Replication

- doing the same study precisely as it was conducted in its original form.

Conceptual Replication

- doing the study with different methods or different types of samples.

Replication

- repeating a study and getting the same results.

Scientific Inquiry/ Scientific Method

-Psychologists can take an observation from everyday life, develop a theory that might explain that observation, and then test their ideas systematically using the scientific method. -Is how psychologists gain knowledge about mind and behavior. -What makes psychology a science.

Scientific Method: 5 Steps

1: Observing some phenomenon 2: Formulating hypotheses and predictions 3: Testing through empirical research 4: Drawing conclusions 5: Evaluating the theory