Psych 291
Chapter 1:
Producer of Research: Generates knowledge through conducting experiments, collecting data, analyzing
results and publishing. Careers for producers involve; Research scientists, professors
Consumer of Research: A person that uses findings of research and applies to their life, job, family.
Careers for consumers involve; Therapist, social workers.
- It is important to be a good consumer of research to ensure you are making wise decisions. Like
using a better therapy for your client, making sure it evidence based.
Scientists are empiricists: This means they base their knowledge on evidence from the five senses or
from instruments that extend our senses, such as thermometers, timers, and questionnaires.
- Quantitative Methods: This is research that collects and analyzes data in the form of numbers.
Example: “How many students improved their test scores after using a new textbook?”
- Qualitative Methods: This is research that focuses on gathering non-numerical data, like
in-depth opinions and experiences, often through open-ended questions. It is less common in
some fields.
The Data Theory Cycle (with your example):
1. Theory: A broad statement or set of statements that explains observable facts. A good
theory must be falsifiable, meaning it could potentially be proven wrong. They set up
gambles.
■ Your Example: "Young children like to play with phones more than toddlers do."
2. Research Question: A specific, open-ended question that arises from the theory.
■ Your Example: "Do young children or toddlers show a greater preference for
playing with phones?"
3. Research Design / Hypothesis: A specific, testable prediction about the outcome of the
study.
■ Your Example (Hypothesis): "Young children will spend more time playing with
a phone than toddlers will."
4. Data: A set of observations collected from the research.
5. Supporting/Non-supporting Data:
■ If the data supports the hypothesis, it makes the theory stronger.
■ If the data does not support the hypothesis, you may need to rethink the
research design or modify the theory.
,The word PROVE does not exist in science. Maybe words like support are a better fit. This is because
science cant prove a theory fits every single case scenario possible. Example
Seerit Says: All kids like phones.
- Alisha likes phones
- Ashleen likes phones
But that does not prove every single child does. There can be a kid somewhere, that hates phones.
A single confirm can’t prove a theory.
Science is a working truth
A replication of a original study can happen, to see if results are consistent. Scientist therefore base their
findings on the weight of their evidence.
- Twochi likes phones
- Kabir likes phones
Ex: Science strong supports that all kids like phones.
, Mentrons Scientific Norms:
Universalism: Anyone can practice science. You don't need a degree
Dissinterdentes: Don’t let personal interests get in the way collected data. Do not spin the story.
Communality: Data is the property of the community.
Organized Skepticism: Question everything. Even your own theory.
- New modern thoughts: White old men cant control everything. Representation in both researchers
and those observed is VERY important.
Applied Research VS Basic Research:
Applied: Practical problem in mind. Real world. - If a schools new learning method is better than the last?
Basic: Enhance general knowledge. - Human minds memory capacity?
Mozart Effect: Journalist sometimes misrepresent certain things by either generalizing them or
overextracting them.
Chapter 2:
Experience/ Personal biases VS Research:
Sometimes when trying to make a decision we use our experiences or experiences of close family or
friends to help us make that decision. Though the reason this isn’t always reliable is
Experience has no comparison group; a comparison group allows to know what would happen with and
without a variable. A comparison group is important to tell us what all cases look like, though research
results are Probabilistic which means while they do speak about a high volume of people they don't speak
for all people.
Cofounds: When we use the real world to help us make a decision, we don’t know what the real cause
could be. (Example: Me believing that jaskaran is the solution to my anxiety, because thats the only thing
that works for me. But the cofound might be that he keeps me distracted from anxiety.)
Personal Biases also often get in the way of decision making:
1. Being swayed by a good story
- This means believing what makes most sense to you or has a realistic story to it.
(Example; it was believed that exposure to jail conditions would scare teenagers away
from criminal activity -- duh that makes most sense. But science research results showed
that it did the opposite)
2. Availability Heuristic
- This means limiting beliefs to things that come to mind easiest. (Example: Thinking that
a missed period means your pregnant but it could be an irregular cycle)
3. Confirmation Bias
Chapter 1:
Producer of Research: Generates knowledge through conducting experiments, collecting data, analyzing
results and publishing. Careers for producers involve; Research scientists, professors
Consumer of Research: A person that uses findings of research and applies to their life, job, family.
Careers for consumers involve; Therapist, social workers.
- It is important to be a good consumer of research to ensure you are making wise decisions. Like
using a better therapy for your client, making sure it evidence based.
Scientists are empiricists: This means they base their knowledge on evidence from the five senses or
from instruments that extend our senses, such as thermometers, timers, and questionnaires.
- Quantitative Methods: This is research that collects and analyzes data in the form of numbers.
Example: “How many students improved their test scores after using a new textbook?”
- Qualitative Methods: This is research that focuses on gathering non-numerical data, like
in-depth opinions and experiences, often through open-ended questions. It is less common in
some fields.
The Data Theory Cycle (with your example):
1. Theory: A broad statement or set of statements that explains observable facts. A good
theory must be falsifiable, meaning it could potentially be proven wrong. They set up
gambles.
■ Your Example: "Young children like to play with phones more than toddlers do."
2. Research Question: A specific, open-ended question that arises from the theory.
■ Your Example: "Do young children or toddlers show a greater preference for
playing with phones?"
3. Research Design / Hypothesis: A specific, testable prediction about the outcome of the
study.
■ Your Example (Hypothesis): "Young children will spend more time playing with
a phone than toddlers will."
4. Data: A set of observations collected from the research.
5. Supporting/Non-supporting Data:
■ If the data supports the hypothesis, it makes the theory stronger.
■ If the data does not support the hypothesis, you may need to rethink the
research design or modify the theory.
,The word PROVE does not exist in science. Maybe words like support are a better fit. This is because
science cant prove a theory fits every single case scenario possible. Example
Seerit Says: All kids like phones.
- Alisha likes phones
- Ashleen likes phones
But that does not prove every single child does. There can be a kid somewhere, that hates phones.
A single confirm can’t prove a theory.
Science is a working truth
A replication of a original study can happen, to see if results are consistent. Scientist therefore base their
findings on the weight of their evidence.
- Twochi likes phones
- Kabir likes phones
Ex: Science strong supports that all kids like phones.
, Mentrons Scientific Norms:
Universalism: Anyone can practice science. You don't need a degree
Dissinterdentes: Don’t let personal interests get in the way collected data. Do not spin the story.
Communality: Data is the property of the community.
Organized Skepticism: Question everything. Even your own theory.
- New modern thoughts: White old men cant control everything. Representation in both researchers
and those observed is VERY important.
Applied Research VS Basic Research:
Applied: Practical problem in mind. Real world. - If a schools new learning method is better than the last?
Basic: Enhance general knowledge. - Human minds memory capacity?
Mozart Effect: Journalist sometimes misrepresent certain things by either generalizing them or
overextracting them.
Chapter 2:
Experience/ Personal biases VS Research:
Sometimes when trying to make a decision we use our experiences or experiences of close family or
friends to help us make that decision. Though the reason this isn’t always reliable is
Experience has no comparison group; a comparison group allows to know what would happen with and
without a variable. A comparison group is important to tell us what all cases look like, though research
results are Probabilistic which means while they do speak about a high volume of people they don't speak
for all people.
Cofounds: When we use the real world to help us make a decision, we don’t know what the real cause
could be. (Example: Me believing that jaskaran is the solution to my anxiety, because thats the only thing
that works for me. But the cofound might be that he keeps me distracted from anxiety.)
Personal Biases also often get in the way of decision making:
1. Being swayed by a good story
- This means believing what makes most sense to you or has a realistic story to it.
(Example; it was believed that exposure to jail conditions would scare teenagers away
from criminal activity -- duh that makes most sense. But science research results showed
that it did the opposite)
2. Availability Heuristic
- This means limiting beliefs to things that come to mind easiest. (Example: Thinking that
a missed period means your pregnant but it could be an irregular cycle)
3. Confirmation Bias
