PSYC217 Chapter 1 - Introduction, Science & Psychology. Levels of Analysis Study Terms basic research > Research that attempts to answer fundamental questions about the nature of behaviour. applied research > Research conducted to address practical problems and propose potential solutions. Methods of Acquiring knowledge intuition > Relying upon anecdote, experience, or judgment to make sense of the world, without adopting a critical or questioning mindset. advantages > fast, efficient, feels 'right' disadvantages > subject to bias/distortion, highlight confirming evidence, discount discomforting evidence authority > Any source of power or control (e.g., news media, books, government officials, or religious figures). We often defer to authorities and accept their ideas and recommendations unthinkingly. advantages > fast, efficient, cheap, necessary disadvantages > who/when to trust? Scientific Method = skepticism + empiricism scientific skepticism > Not accepting something as true unthinkingly, but rather seeking out and CYCLE OF SCIENCE Refine I Idea / Theory 1 Interpret data Design a test Collect data evaluating the relevant evidence to shape our beliefs about what might be true. empiricism > Gaining knowledge through systematic observations of the world. Principles of Science - universalism > systematic and structured scientific observations, and evaluated objectively using the accepted methods of the discipline - agreement about what constitutes acceptable method or piece of data - communality > methods and results to be shared openly. Allows for replication - To repeat a research study to determine whether the results can be duplicated. - Shared research methods and data (or openness) - disinterestedness > scientists should be motivated by by honest and truthful research for truth, not by ego and fame. - motivation for research should be a quest for truth
PSYC217 - organized skepticism > all evidence and theories should be evaluated based on scientific merit, peer review - the process of judging the scientific merit of research through review by peers of the researcher-other scientists with the expertise to evaluate the research. - Organized criticism by experts - The scientific approach rejects the notion that you can accept on faith the statements of any authority warnings of Pseudoscience - Claims are not falsifiable - Methodology is not scientific and data accuracy is questionable - Not good supportive evidence. No citations of peer-reviewed, scientific references. - Claims ignore evidence that is contradictory - Claims are stated in scientific-sounding terminology + ideas - Claims are vague, and appeal to preconceived ideas and biases - Claims are never revised to account for new data - Propose simple solutions in exchange for money - goals of scientific research The four main goals of scientific research are: - identify the phenomenon, what it looks like, when and how often it occurs and for whom (1) to describe behaviour (2) to predict behaviour - if two events have been observed to be consistently related, it becomes possible to make predictions about when an event might occur and anticipate it. - Be careful not to assume these relationships imply causations - The relationship between more than one