The Science of Psychology
Chapter 1
Introduction and Research Methods
Module Objectives
Why is Psychology a Science?
What is the scientific method?
How do researchers design a study?
Why should I believe what researchers say?
Let’s Start with Some Critical Thinking
Psychology requires the ability to think
critically about different problems.
Consider the following scenarios and use
your critical thinking skills!
A man is found hanging in an
otherwise empty locked room
with a puddle of water under
his feet.
How did he do it?
Did you get it?
He stood on a block of ice until it melted,
which explains the puddle under his
feet!
Try this one…
A policeman was walking past a house. He heard
someone cry, "Don't shoot me, John! Don't shoot!"
There was one gunshot. The policeman entered
the house and saw a lawyer, priest, and an
engineer, gathered around a dead body. The priest
was immediately arrested.
‐
How did the policeman know?
What DO you think?
The police officer knows that the
Priest is John because the lawyer and
the engineer were both WOMEN!
The Science of Psychology
When Psychologists perform research
they begin by asking questions
The Science of Psychology
Psychology is based on two premises of
science:
1.
Empiricism

2.
Acquiring information through careful observation
Theory development:

Collecting interrelated ideas and observations
Psychology as a Science
Psychologists must engage in careful observation
when studying behavior and mental processes
What does that mean?
They must put aside personal feelings or biases
‐ They must gather information systematically
‐ They must be able to replicate their results
‐
Systematic observation is setting up
our study so that we eliminate or
reduce bias.
“We must keep our minds open
but not so open that our brain
falls out.” (Oberg, 1995)
Why can’t scientists base
their research off of casual,
everyday observations?
(People watching)
Skepticism combines two opposing
attitudes:
‐
an openness to new ideas combined with a
willingness to subject these claims to
scrutiny.
Everyday Observations
What appears on the back of a $1 bill?
What is the shape of a stop sign?
What way does Lincoln face on the penny?
In which hand does the Statue of Liberty hold her
torch?
How many tines are there on a regular dinner fork?
What shape is the Garden State Parkway sign?
How Did You Do?
On the back of a dollar bill you will find 2 circles which
make up the Great Seal of the US:
1.
‐
left circle is the pyramid with the eye and the right circle is
the bald eagle
2.
A stop sign is an octagon (8-sides)
3.
Lincoln faces to the right on the penny
4.
Lady Liberty holds the torch in her right hand
5.
There are four tines on a dinner fork
6.
The GSP sign is a circle
What we casually observe
without a systematic plan can
often be inaccurate.
Answer the following questions to illustrate
this point…don’t cheat 
Unfortunately, casual observation is
subject to bias that can distort
information
We notice behavior that fits our
stereotypes
Why is Research Conducted?
The purpose of scientific research is to
create new knowledge and increase our
understanding of human behavior.
‐
This knowledge is applied in all areas of society
to provide solutions.
In science, research strategies are categorized
as either basic or applied.
Basic research is designed to advance general
understanding
Applied research is designed to solve practical
problems
How Do Scientists
Collect and Evaluate Evidence?
Psychologists follow strict,
standardized scientific
procedures so that others can
understand, interpret and repeat
their findings
Science is derived from the
Latin word meaning knowledge.
We gain scientific knowledge by testing
hypotheses. Research designed to test
hypotheses goes through a series of steps…
Psychologists follow strict,
standardized scientific procedures
so that others can understand,
interpret and repeat/test their
findings
This process involves several specific steps
to ensure the results are valid
How is research conducted?
The Scientific Method allows psychologists to
explore psychological issues systematically
by using objective means
Think on your own…
What does it mean to be OBJECTIVE?
The scientific method is a tool box of
skills that scientists have developed
to prevent themselves from
confirming their own biases
The Scientific Method
1.
Formulate a research question by stating a question and performing
a literature review
2.
Develop a operationally defined and testable hypothesis
3.
Research Design is selected to test the hypothesis
4.
A statistical analysis must be performed on the data to determine if
the findings support or reject the hypothesis.
5.
The research is published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
6.
After one or more studies on a topic, researchers generally advance
a theory to explain their results.
Scientific Method in Psychology
Before research begins, a problem must be
identified
‐
Researchers then perform a literature review and
look at previously performed work.
The Psychologist must choose and formulate
a question to be answered.
Make a Prediction!
Develop a testable hypothesis, or a specific
prediction about how one factor is related to
another.
2.
This MUST be a testable prediction that is
operationally defined-meaning the variables in
are stated precisely in measurable terms.
‐
Example: Drinking excessive amounts of caffeine
before the exam will increase my score.
Students often discuss wonderful
questions they would like to
research, but what’s crucial in this
research process is that the
question be testable.
How to make a testable prediction is
where the challenge lies…
Let’s practice
What is a testable hypothesis for this
nursery rhyme?
Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown. Jill came
tumbling after.
What is your Hypothesis?
What could help us understand why Jack and
Jill fell down the hill?
Perhaps we could hypothesize that fetching water
causes falls.
‐
There is a correlation or a relationship between the
terrain and the likelihood of falling.
Or…Perhaps…this explains the fall…
The hypothesis must be
testable, but also operationally
defined
These allow a more specific
measurement by defining a numerical
value.
Operational definitions allow
Psychologist’s to study intangible
concepts by making them more
concrete, countable, and
observable.
Examples of
Operational Definitions
Aggressive behavior – the number of times a child punches a
punching bag over the course of one hour
Happiness – the number of times a person smiles while
watching a Disney movie
Intelligence – a score on an IQ test
Anxiety – the number of pencils a student brings to an
exam
Try this on your own…
Operationally define the
following
-Sadness
-Creativity
Next…
Research Methods