Psychology 255: Scientific Understanding of Behavior
Importance of research
1. Why know research methods.
2. Ways of knowing
a. Intuition
b. Authority
c. Empiricism: Systematic observations based on data that can be supported.
The Scientific approach
- Data plays a central role
- Scientists are skeptics
- Science is adversarial
- Scientific evidence is peer review.
Goals of Behavioral Science
1. Prediction of Behavior
2. Prediction of Behavior
3. Determining the Cause
4. Explanation of Behavior
Determining the Cause
1. Temporal Precedence: A has to happen before B.
2. Covariation of cause effect: One variable changes therefore the other variable changes. If
sleep impacts grades, and we change our sleep changes, our grades will change.
3. Alternative Explanation: Could something else possibly caused the outcome of your
research besides what you came up with.
Illusory correlation: when we focus on two events that stand out and occur together.
Importance of research
1. Why know research methods.
2. Ways of knowing
a. Intuition
b. Authority
c. Empiricism: Systematic observations based on data that can be supported.
The Scientific approach
- Data plays a central role
- Scientists are skeptics
- Science is adversarial
- Scientific evidence is peer review.
Goals of Behavioral Science
1. Prediction of Behavior
2. Prediction of Behavior
3. Determining the Cause
4. Explanation of Behavior
Determining the Cause
1. Temporal Precedence: A has to happen before B.
2. Covariation of cause effect: One variable changes therefore the other variable changes. If
sleep impacts grades, and we change our sleep changes, our grades will change.
3. Alternative Explanation: Could something else possibly caused the outcome of your
research besides what you came up with.
Illusory correlation: when we focus on two events that stand out and occur together.
