Chapter 1 Scientific Mentality
Experimental Psychology and
the Scientific Method
Science – connotes content and process
Methodology – consists of the scientific
techniques we use to collect and evaluate
data
Data – are the facts we gather using
scientific methods
Commonsense Psychology
- a nonscientific data gathering that
Heider called
- uses non scientific sources of data and
nonscientific inference
Nonscientific Inference
- is the nonscientific use of information to
explain or predict behavior
1. Gambler’s Fallacy
- misuse of data to estimate the
probability of an event
e.g. slot machine will pay off
2. Overuse Trait Explanation
- often make unwarranted
dispositional attributions and
underuse situational information
- this bias can reduce the
accuracy of our explanations and
predictions
3. Stereotyping
- falsely assume that specific
behaviors cluster together
- ignores individual differences
4. Overconfidence Bias
- feel more confident about our
conclusions than is warranted by
available data
- can result in erroneous
conclusions when we don’t
recognize the limitations of
supporting data
- assumes that behavior follows a natural
order and can be predicted
- essential to science since there is no
point to using the scientific method to
gather and analyze data if there is no
implicit order
Empirical – when data are observed or
experience
Law – consists of statements generally
expressed as equations with few
variables that have overwhelming
empirical support
Theory
- set of related statements used to
explain and predict phenomena
- integrate diverse data, explain,
behavior, and predict new instances of
behavior
Good Thinking – critical to the scientific
method; when data collection and
interpretation are systematic, objective,
and rational
Parsimony – we refer to the simplest
useful explanation
Principle of Modus Tollens
- allows us to disprove statements using
a single, contrary observation
- we can never prove a statement
because a contradictory observation
might be found later
Replication
- an exact or systematic repetition of a
study
- increases our confidence in
experimental results by adding to the
weight of supporting evidence
The Four Main Objectives of
Science
Description – systematic and unbiased
account of observed characteristics of
behaviors
Prediction – the capability of knowing in
advance when certain behaviors should
occur
Explanation – is the knowledge of the
conditions that reliably produce a
behavior
Control - the use of scientific knowledge
to influence behavior
Difference Between Applied and
Basic Research
Applied Research – addresses real-
world problems
Basic Research – tests theories and
explains psychological phenomena
Main Tools of Psychological
Science
Observation
- systematic noting and recording of
events
• Systematic – the procedures
are consistently applied
- events or their signs must be observable
- must be objective so that there can be
strong agreement among raters
Measurement
- assigns numbers to objects, events, or
their characteristics
- an inherent feature of quantitative
research
Experimentation
- the process we use to test the
predictions we call hypotheses and
establish cause-and-effect relationships
- experimentation is not always possible
because our predictions must be
testable
Requirements for an
Experiment
- must be able to manipulate the
independent variable and measure its
effect on the dependent variable
- ethical concerns or technological
limitations may prevent experimentation
- an experiment requires that we create
at least two treatment conditions and
randomly assign subjects to these
conditions
- in psychology experiments, we control
extraneous variables so that we can
measure what we intend to measure
How Does an Experiment
Establish Cause and Effect
- attempts to establish a cause-and-effect
relationship between the antecedent
conditions (IV) and subject behavior
(DV)
- experiments establish a temporal
relationship, because causes must
precede effects. However, not all prior
events are causes
Pseudoscience
- any field of study that gives the
appearance of being scientific, but has no
true scientific basis and has not been
confirmed using the scientific method
- modern pseudoscience include past life
regression, reparenting, and rebirthing
Other Terms to Remember:
Erroneous Conclusions – incorrect or
only partly correct
Extraneous Variable – any variable
that you’re not investigating that can
potentially affect the outcomes of your
research study
Temporal Relationships – timing
between a factor and an outcome which
can be used to assign causality to a
relationship