Empiricism- Knowledge is based on observations
Good scientific ideas are testable, they can be supported or falsified by data.
Peer Review- making sure only the best research is published.
Goals of Science:
1. To describe behaviour (simply describe observations)
2. To predict behaviour (once it has been observed that two events are systematically related to
one another it becomes possible to make predictions)
3. To determine the causes of behaviour (although we might accurately predict the occurrence of
behaviour , we might not have correctly identified its CAUSE)
To Conclude Causation, 3 Things Must Occur:
Temporal Precedence - Order of events in which the cause precedes the effect.
Covariation of Cause and Effect- When the cause is present the affect occurs, when the
cause is not present the affect doesn't occur.
Alternative Explanations- Nothing other than a causal variable could be responsible for
the observed effect.
4. To understand or explain behaviour (WHY- explanations of behaviour often must be discarded
or revised as new evidence is gathered.
The advantage of the scientific approach is that it provides an objective set of rules for gathering,
evaluating and reporting information.
Basic Research:
Basic Research tries to answer fundamental questions about the nature of behaviour. Studies
usually answer theoretical issues like- cognition, emotion, motivation, learning..
Applied Research:
Applied research addresses issues in which there are practical problems and potential solutions.
Used to help people make better decisions concerning problems that require immediate action.
Program Evaluation - (area of applied research)- evaluates the social reforms and innovations
that occur in government, education, the criminal justice system, industry, health care.. act.
These places must be evaluated to see if they are having their intended effect.
Chapter 2:
Hypothesis- Type of idea or question. (waiting for evidence to support or refute it).
E.g- Do men or women consume more alcohol?
After formulating a hypothesis the researcher will then design a study to test the hypothesis.
Then the researcher would make a Prediction - concerning the outcome of the experiment.
When results of a study confirm a prediction, the hypothesis is only supported, not proven.
Theories - Body of ideas about a particular topic or phenomena. They organise and explain a
variety of specific facts, descriptions of behaviour.
Theories generate new knowledge by focusing our thinking so that we notice new aspects of
behaviour. Theories generate hypotheses about behaviours and the researcher then conducts
studies to test the hypotheses. (if study confirms hypothesis, theory is supported).
Anatomy of a Research Article:
Abstract: summary of research report
Introduction: researcher outlines problems that have been investigated in the past and how it has
to do with present theory and future research.
Good scientific ideas are testable, they can be supported or falsified by data.
Peer Review- making sure only the best research is published.
Goals of Science:
1. To describe behaviour (simply describe observations)
2. To predict behaviour (once it has been observed that two events are systematically related to
one another it becomes possible to make predictions)
3. To determine the causes of behaviour (although we might accurately predict the occurrence of
behaviour , we might not have correctly identified its CAUSE)
To Conclude Causation, 3 Things Must Occur:
Temporal Precedence - Order of events in which the cause precedes the effect.
Covariation of Cause and Effect- When the cause is present the affect occurs, when the
cause is not present the affect doesn't occur.
Alternative Explanations- Nothing other than a causal variable could be responsible for
the observed effect.
4. To understand or explain behaviour (WHY- explanations of behaviour often must be discarded
or revised as new evidence is gathered.
The advantage of the scientific approach is that it provides an objective set of rules for gathering,
evaluating and reporting information.
Basic Research:
Basic Research tries to answer fundamental questions about the nature of behaviour. Studies
usually answer theoretical issues like- cognition, emotion, motivation, learning..
Applied Research:
Applied research addresses issues in which there are practical problems and potential solutions.
Used to help people make better decisions concerning problems that require immediate action.
Program Evaluation - (area of applied research)- evaluates the social reforms and innovations
that occur in government, education, the criminal justice system, industry, health care.. act.
These places must be evaluated to see if they are having their intended effect.
Chapter 2:
Hypothesis- Type of idea or question. (waiting for evidence to support or refute it).
E.g- Do men or women consume more alcohol?
After formulating a hypothesis the researcher will then design a study to test the hypothesis.
Then the researcher would make a Prediction - concerning the outcome of the experiment.
When results of a study confirm a prediction, the hypothesis is only supported, not proven.
Theories - Body of ideas about a particular topic or phenomena. They organise and explain a
variety of specific facts, descriptions of behaviour.
Theories generate new knowledge by focusing our thinking so that we notice new aspects of
behaviour. Theories generate hypotheses about behaviours and the researcher then conducts
studies to test the hypotheses. (if study confirms hypothesis, theory is supported).
Anatomy of a Research Article:
Abstract: summary of research report
Introduction: researcher outlines problems that have been investigated in the past and how it has
to do with present theory and future research.
