Questions
• You may not “double-dip” in regards to the
HSP/REC requirement
• Must specify class when signing up
• Cozby as an e-book?
• Different section with different instructor
The History of Human
Understanding
•
Metaphysical Systems:
• Attributing behavior or
experiences to
nonphysical forces such
as spirits or deities
• Violates scientists’
established physical laws
The History of Human
Understanding
•
Animism
•
Belief that natural phenomena
are alive and influence behavior
•
Possession of animal parts
endows the owner with psychological
aspects of the animal
•
Wind, sun, and rain have temperaments
•
Plato – “the universe is alive and has a soul”
•
Aristotle – gravity reflects the desire of physical
objects to return to mother earth
The History of Human
Understanding
•
Mythology and religion
•
•
•
•
Deities of spiritual rather than
physical existence
More sophisticated explanations
than animism
Non-physical forces influence
behavior
Important: science can’t determine
whether right or wrong – just
different than science
• Difference set of assumptions
• Both attempt to explain
behavior
The History of Human
Understanding
•
Astrology
•
•
Human behavior is
determined by the
activity of celestial
bodies
Relegated to mere
entertainment
The History of Human
Understanding
•
Philosophy
•
•
Study of knowledge and
behavior through logic,
intuition, and observation
Early philosophers were
influenced by popular
beliefs
•
Descartes accepted notion
that nerves were hollow
tubes that “animal spirits”
were carried through
The History of Human
Understanding
•
Physiology and Physical
Sciences
•
Study of the functions of the
interrelations between different
parts of the brain and body
•
The scientific method is used in
physiology
•
Physiologists taught psychologists
the value of careful, systematic
experimentation through
observation.
CHAPTER 1
SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF
BEHAVIOR
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Explain the reasons for understanding
research methods
Describe the scientific approach to learning
about behavior, and contrast it with
pseudoscientific research
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Learn about the four goals of scientific
research: description, prediction,
determination of cause, and explanation of
behavior
Define basic and applied research
The Science of Psychology
• Freud & modern psychology
• Modern psychological methods
• Why is the scientific method important?
• Systematic Empiricism
• Public Knowledge
• Replication
• Peer Review (beware if bypassed)
• Answerable Questions
The Science of Psychology
• The Scientific Method
Observation
Modify
Theory
Test
Prediction
The Science of Psychology
• Answerable Questions = Testable Theories
• “Testable” is always changing
• But why do we need all this? Isn’t it
commonsense?
• Many commonsense beliefs have been tested
(teenage employment, aggression & selfesteem, 10% of our brain)
USES OF RESEARCH METHODS
Increasingly important in public policy and
judicial decisions
Homework Assignment
Important when developing and assessing
the effectiveness of goal oriented programs
THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
Limitations of Intuition
Intuition relies unquestioningly on personal
judgment
Reflect our need to impose order
Eg. Bad things happen in 3’s
Involves cognitive and motivational biases
Erroneous conclusions about cause and effect
 Example: Illusory correlation
THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
• Allows you to be skeptical of authority
• Examples of Authority
• News media
• Books
• Government officials
• Internet
THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
Skepticism, Science, and the Empirical
Approach
Empiricism
Falsifiability
Peer review
Integrating Intuition, Skepticism, and
Authority
Elements of Goodstein’s Evolved
Theory of Science
Observations accurately reported to others
+
Search for discovery and verification of ideas
+
Open exchange and competition among ideas
+
Peer review of research
GOALS OF SCIENCE
Description of Behavior
Prediction of Behavior (Ex. Eating & test
performance)
Determining the Causes of Behavior
Temporal precedence
Covariation of the cause and effect
Alternative explanations
Explanation of Behavior
BASIC AND APPLIED
RESEARCH
Basic Research
Fundamental questions about the nature
of behavior
- Theoretical issues often concern basic
phenomena such as cognition, emotion,
motivation, learning, psychobiology,
personality development, and social
behavior.
BASIC AND APPLIED
RESEARCH
Applied Research
Conducted to address issues in which
there are practical problems and potential
solutions.
Program evaluation
BASIC AND APPLIED
RESEARCH
• Comparing Basic and Applied Research
• Neither is considered superior to the other
• Applied research is often guided by theories
and findings of basic research
• Findings in applied settings often require
modification of existing theories and spur more
basic research