psyc notes chapter 2
Subject:
Psychology [1]
Tags:
Science [2]
Knowledge [3]
Statistics [4]
research methods [8]
Psychology [10]
Extraneous variable [11]
Research [12]
Variable [13]
Technology [14]
Psychology is empirical. Psychologists are committed to addressing questions about behavior through formal, systematic observation The scientific approach assumes that events are governed by some lawful order Psychologists and other scientists share three sets of interrelated goals: Measurement and description Understanding and prediction A hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables. Variables are any measurable conditions, events, characteristics, or behaviors that are controlled or observed in a study Application and control A theory is a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations. Allows to leap from description of behavior to understanding Must be testable Gradual construction