TOPICS TO DISCUSS
The Need for Scientific Methodology
The Characteristics of Modern Science
The Objectives of Psychological Science
The Tools of Psychological Science
Scientific Explanation in Psychological Science
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IS PSYCHOLOGY A SCIENCE?
o Science uses an empirical approach.
Empiricism (founded by John Locke) states
that the only source of knowledge comes
through our senses – e.g., sight, hearing etc.
o This contrasted with the existing view that
knowledge could be gained solely through the
powers of reason and logical argument
(known as rationalism).
o Thus, empiricism is the view that all
knowledge is based on or may come from
experience.
o The empirical approach through gaining
knowledge through experience quickly
became the scientific approach and greatly
influenced the development of physics and
chemistry in the 17th and 18th centuries.
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THE NEED FOR SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY
What Is the Scientific Method?
 The scientific method is essentially a step-by-step process that
researchers can follow to determine if there is some type of relationship
between two or more variables.
While the everyday judgments we make about human behavior are
subjective and anecdotal, researchers use the scientific method to study
psychology in an objective and systematic way.
By knowing the steps of the scientific method, you can better understand
the process researchers go through to arrive at conclusions about human
behavior.
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THE NEED FOR SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY
1. Commonsense Psychology derived from own observations and experiences
learned from other people; data we collect from everyday lives and their
conclusions are subject to biases which limits their accuracy and usefulness.
2. Nonscientific Sources of Data Credible and trustworthy sources: friends,
relatives, people in authority, people we admire, media, books
 Myths, Superstitious beliefs, Pop Psychology
- Do you believe in the power of crystals?
- Do you read you horoscope?
- Do you believe that dreams foretell future?
- Do you believe the lifeline in your palm?
- Do you feel anxious during Friday the 13th?
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REASONS TO USE THE STEPS
OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The scientific method is a set of principles and
procedures that are used by researchers to develop
questions, collect data, and reach conclusions.
In order to do this, psychologists utilize
the scientific method to conduct
psychological research.
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KEY TERMS TO KNOW
Before you begin exploring the scientific method steps, there are
some key terms and definitions that you should be familiar with.
Hypothesis: An educated guess about the possible relationship
between two or more variables.
Variable: A factor or element that can change in observable and
measurable ways.
Operational Definition: A full description of exactly how
variables are defined, how they will be manipulated, and how they
will be measured.
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THE STEPS OF THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Make an
Observation
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Ask a
Question
Test your
Hypothesis
and Collect
Data
Examine the
Result and
Draw
Conclusion
Report the
Result
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THE STEPS OF THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Make an
Observation
Ask a Question
Test Your
Hypothesis and
Collect Data
Examine the Result
and Draw
Conclusion
Report the Result
Before a researcher
can begin, they must
choose a topic to study.
Once an area of
interest has been
chosen, the researchers
must then conduct a
thorough review of the
existing literature on
the subject.
The researcher will
form a hypothesis,
which is an educated
guess about the
relationship between
two or more variables.
Formulate a Hypothesis
Once you have a solid
hypothesis, the next
step of the scientific
method is to put this
hunch to the test by
collecting data.
- Descriptive
Research
- Experimental
Research
- Correlational
Studies
Using statistics,
researchers can
summarize the data,
analyze the results,
and draw conclusions
based on this evidence.
This is often done by
writing up a
description of the study
and publishing the
article in an academic
or professional journal.
The results of
psychological studies
can be seen in peerreviewed journals such
as Psychological
Bulletin.. Etc.
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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN
SCIENCE
1. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
 Refers to data being collected
through direct observation or
experiment.
 Empirical evidence does not rely on
argument or belief.
 Instead, experiments and
observations are carried out carefully
and reported in detail so that other
investigators can repeat and attempt to
verify the work.
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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN
SCIENCE
2. OBJECTIVITY
 Researchers should remain totally value
free when studying; they should try to remain
totally unbiased in their investigations. I.e.,
Researchers are not influenced by personal
feelings and experiences.
 Objectivity means that all sources of
bias are minimized and that personal or
subjective ideas are eliminated. The pursuit
of science implies that the facts will speak for
themselves, even if they turn out to be
different from what the investigator hoped.
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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN
SCIENCE
3. CONTROL
 All extraneous variables
need to be controlled in order to
be able to establish cause (IV)
and effect (DV).
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4. HYPOTHESIS TESTING
 E.g., a statement made at the
beginning of an investigation that serves
as a prediction and is derived from a
theory. There are different types of
hypotheses (null and alternative), which
need to be stated in a form that can be
tested (i.e., operationalized and
unambiguous).
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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN
SCIENCE
5. REPLICATION
This refers to whether a particular
method and finding can be repeated with
different/same people and/or on
different occasions, to see if the results are
similar.
 If a dramatic discovery is reported, but
it cannot be replicated by other scientists it
will not be accepted.
 If we get the same results repeatedly
under the same conditions, we can be sure
of their accuracy beyond reasonable doubt.
 This gives us confidence that the results
are reliable and can be used to build up a
body of knowledge or a theory: vital in
establishing a scientific theory.
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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN
SCIENCE
5. PREDICTABILITY
We should be aiming to be able
to predict future behavior from the
findings of our research.
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THE OBJECTIVES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Through describing the
behavior of humans and
other animals, we are better
able to understand it and
gain a better perspective on
what is considered normal
and abnormal.
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Successfully predicting behavior
is also one of the best ways to
know if we understand the
underlying causes of our actions.
Some theories focus on just a
small aspect of human
behavior (known as minitheories) while others serve as
all-encompassing theories
designed to explain all human
psychology (known as grand
theories).
psychology strives to
change, influence, or control
behavior to make
constructive and lasting
changes in people's lives.
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THE TOOLS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL
SCIENCE
1. Gathering of information objectively and systematically
2. Conclusions based on evidence
3 Main tools of Scientific Approach:
OBSERVATION
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MEASUREMENT
EXPERIMENTATION
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3 MAIN TOOLS OF SCIENTIFIC APPROACH:
1. Observation
- the systematic noting and
recording of events
- only events that are
observable can be studied
scientifically
- Observable behavior:
smoking, smiling, talking
- How to explore internal
process?
Ex. Feelings, Thinking
and Problem Solving
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2. Measurement
- assigning numerical values
to objects or events according to
conventional rules
- assign numbers to
different sizes, quantities, or
qualities of the events under
observation
- Standardized intelligence
test and Standardized
personality
3. Experimentation
- the process undertaken to
show predictability of events
under specific conditions or
situations.
- used to demonstrate the
conditions under which a
particular behavior can be
expected to occur with
regularity
- Manipulate systematically
the settings to verify predictions
- Predictions must be
TESTABLE
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SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION IN
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
1. Identifying Antecedent Conditions
- Antecedent condition: the
circumstance that come before the
event or the behavior we want to
explain
- Identification of antecedent
conditions allows predictions about
future behaviors
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SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION IN
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
2. Comparing Treatment Conditions
- impossible to identify all
antecedents that affect behavior
- TREATMENT: specific sets of
antecedent conditions
- comparison of treatments
to test explanation on behavior
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Antecedent
- Hereditary
Treatment
Condition 1
- Being Bullied
Treatment
Condition 2
- Boredom
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QUICK REVIEW
4 PRIMARY
GOAL/OBJECTIVES OF
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
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DESCRIBE, EXPLAIN,
PREDICT AND CHANGE
BEHAVIOR
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QUICK REVIEW
WHAT IS A SCIENTIFIC
METHOD?
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The scientific method is
essentially a step-by-step
process that researchers can
follow to determine if there is
some type of relationship
between two or more variables.
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QUICK REVIEW
CHARACTERISTICS OF
MODERN SCIENCE
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EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
OBJECTIVITY
CONTROL
HYPOTHESIS TESTING
REPLICATION
PREDICTABILITY
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QUICK REVIEW
TOOLS OF SCIENTIFIC
APPROACH
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OBSERVATION
MEASUREMENT
EXPERIMENTATION
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QUICK REVIEW
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EMPIRICISM VS
RATIONALISM
NONSCIENTIFIC
SOURCE OF DATA
COMMONSENSE
PSYCHOLOGY
OPERATIONAL
DEFINITION
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