science
= a set of methods used to collect info. about phenomena in particular area of interest and to build a reliable base of knowledge about them
empirical evidence
= evidence based on observation or experimentation
scientist
- identifies a phenomenon to study, develops hypothesis, conduces a study to collect data, analyses data and disseminates the results
- has to be skeptical, follow the rules of logic
- has to follow certain guidelines of scientific methods
confirmation bias
= tendency to look for info. that will confirm our prior believes, assumptions and ignore/ downplay info. that doesn’t
psychology
= science of behavior and mental processes
major goals:
- build an organized body of knowledge about it’s subjects matter
- describe mental & behavioral processes and develop reliable explanations for these processes
true science
= method to obtain info. in research
- identifying phenomenon to study
- discogering info. about this phenomenon
- developing explanations for the phenomenon
protoscience
= on the edge of becoming a science;
- no scientific techniques used
- -> can drift into pseudoscience if not done properly
pseudoscience
= tries to look scientific in order to confine people of reliability (but is not)
–> just promotes/ convinces ideas, but not demonstrates real facts
non-science
= academical discipline that supports position through logical argumentation not empirical data (Philosophy)
–> works arguments, no evidence
the scientific method (Braithwait)
- observing a phenomenon
(scouting and identification of variables that appear to have important influence on the observed behavior) - formulating tentative explanations
(development of hypothesis, tentative explanation for the observed behavior) - further observing and experimenting
(further observation to test the validity of the hypothesis (correlational study, quasi-experimental study or experimental)) - analyze the data
- report your findings (and invite others to reproduce the results)
- refining and retesting explanations
(generate new, more specific hypothesis or retest the hypothesis)
2 steps for exploring causes of behavior & explanations (Cialdini)
- scouting
(systematic observations from naturally occurring behavior from many sources) - trapping
(identifying that might affect behavior)
scientific method
Which steps do you have to take as a scientist to study a certain topic?
- describe
- explain
- predict
- influence
–> not only want to describe a phenomena (behavior) but be able to really understand it
psychology = science
= study of mental processes & behavior of people
theory
vs.
hypothesis
- = is a plausible explanation of something that has the ability to logically predict
- = resembles more an assumption (and can’t be prove that it does not exist)
- -> hypothesis is more general
main characteristics of scientific explanation
it should be..
- empirical (objective, systematic observation under controlled conditions, verified by others)
- rational (logic, consistent in known facts)
- testable/ falsifiable (possible to be proven wrong)
- parasimonious (fewest number of assumptions)
- general (broad explanatory power - high external validity)
- tentative (willing to be proven wrong (provisorisch))
- rigorously (should be tested continuously for consistency (streng))
- evaluated (string inference)
biased explanations:
- common-sense explanation
- belief-based explanation
- faulty inference
- pseudo-explanations
- based on own sense what true, biased
- a common form of trusted sources, no evidence required (religion)
- After making observations many often feel they have to infer the cause (–> possible source for mistake)
- circular explanation provides an alternative label instead of cause
