Chapter 1 Scientific Mentality

Experimental Psychology and - assumes that behavior follows a natural

order and can be predicted
the Scientific Method
- essential to science since there is no
point to using the scientific method to
Science – connotes content and process gather and analyze data if there is no
Methodology – consists of the scientific implicit order
techniques we use to collect and evaluate Empirical – when data are observed or
data experience
Data – are the facts we gather using Law – consists of statements generally
scientific methods expressed as equations with few
Commonsense Psychology variables that have overwhelming
- a nonscientific data gathering that empirical support
Heider called Theory
- uses non scientific sources of data and - set of related statements used to
nonscientific inference explain and predict phenomena
Nonscientific Inference - integrate diverse data, explain,
- is the nonscientific use of information to behavior, and predict new instances of
explain or predict behavior behavior
1. Gambler’s Fallacy Good Thinking – critical to the scientific
- misuse of data to estimate the method; when data collection and
probability of an event interpretation are systematic, objective,
e.g. slot machine will pay off and rational
2. Overuse Trait Explanation Parsimony – we refer to the simplest
- often make unwarranted useful explanation
dispositional attributions and Principle of Modus Tollens
underuse situational information - allows us to disprove statements using
- this bias can reduce the a single, contrary observation
accuracy of our explanations and - we can never prove a statement
predictions because a contradictory observation
3. Stereotyping might be found later
- falsely assume that specific
Replication
behaviors cluster together
- an exact or systematic repetition of a
- ignores individual differences
study
4. Overconfidence Bias
- feel more confident about our - increases our confidence in
conclusions than is warranted by experimental results by adding to the
available data weight of supporting evidence
- can result in erroneous
The Four Main Objectives of
conclusions when we don’t
Science
recognize the limitations of
supporting data Description – systematic and unbiased
account of observed characteristics of
behaviors
Prediction – the capability of knowing in - must be able to manipulate the
advance when certain behaviors should independent variable and measure its
occur effect on the dependent variable
Explanation – is the knowledge of the - ethical concerns or technological
conditions that reliably produce a limitations may prevent experimentation
behavior - an experiment requires that we create
Control - the use of scientific knowledge at least two treatment conditions and
to influence behavior randomly assign subjects to these
conditions
Difference Between Applied and - in psychology experiments, we control
Basic Research extraneous variables so that we can
Applied Research – addresses real- measure what we intend to measure
world problems How Does an Experiment
Basic Research – tests theories and Establish Cause and Effect
explains psychological phenomena
- attempts to establish a cause-and-effect
Main Tools of Psychological relationship between the antecedent
Science conditions (IV) and subject behavior
(DV)
Observation
- experiments establish a temporal
- systematic noting and recording of
relationship, because causes must
events
precede effects. However, not all prior
• Systematic – the procedures
events are causes
are consistently applied
- events or their signs must be observable
Pseudoscience
- must be objective so that there can be
- any field of study that gives the
strong agreement among raters
appearance of being scientific, but has no
Measurement
true scientific basis and has not been
- assigns numbers to objects, events, or confirmed using the scientific method
their characteristics
- modern pseudoscience include past life
- an inherent feature of quantitative regression, reparenting, and rebirthing
research
Experimentation
Other Terms to Remember:
- the process we use to test the
Erroneous Conclusions – incorrect or
predictions we call hypotheses and
only partly correct
establish cause-and-effect relationships
Extraneous Variable – any variable
- experimentation is not always possible
that you’re not investigating that can
because our predictions must be
potentially affect the outcomes of your
testable
research study
Temporal Relationships – timing
Requirements for an between a factor and an outcome which
Experiment can be used to assign causality to a
relationship