Dogmatism
develop theories without testing. Base it on assumptions, do not test or attempt to approve and diapprove. Pass these theories down through generations without question, or testing.
-Ex: religion
Empiricism
make observation- look for supporting evidence: forms foundation of modern scientific method.
Birth place of modern medicine
Ancient Greece
Factors that make humans hard to study: Complexity (of brain)
-infinitely complex, we will never fully figure out the human brain. Decision making cell that recieves, interprets, and exerts
-No 2 are alike, even when the same person ages
-400 Trillion active neurons
Factors that make humans hard to study: Variability (between individuals)
-experience is subjective
-People uniquely different from one another
Factors that make humans hard to study: Reactivity (while being watched)
-we are self aware, we are also aware of being observed
-changes the way we function
-Ex: Going to the bathroom; knowing there is a camera in the room, you will act differently
Variable
label or any object/subject/condtion that is controlled or observed in a study
Operational
-all variables are operationally defined: description of abstract property or phenomenon that can be measured/related to: variable can be converted to mathematical measurement
-Ex: career placement exam: personality test that is mathematically measured
measure
the device or tool used to measure a variable
data
all of the measurements on all of the variables in one scientific study
Hypothesis
-educated guess about the value of single variable or the relationship of 2
-Driving statement of scientific research study
-Made in way that can be falsified and tested
-Falsiable: your data can prove your hypothesis wrong
Theory
-system of interrelated ideas used to explain observations
-Good theory: multiple variables
-Much more complex than hypothesis
-Driving statement of a scientist's career
Replication
doing a study over and over again with different people, different places, etc before a hypothesis can be proven
Steps of the Scientific Method
1.) Systematically observe events
2.) Formulate a question
3.) Form Hypothesis
4.) Test a hypothesis
5.) Formulate a theory
6.) Test the theory
7.) Report the results
most important step of scientific method
testing the hypothesis
Case study
study variable on how it affects a single individual> in depth
why use a case study?
-are only done in variables that are exceptionally rare
-Individuals that you never hear about
-Serial killers are a good example
-Usually follows someone through the rest of their life
-Gather as much detail on this person so we can prevent or recognize
Law of large numbers
-Larger the size the sample you study the more accurate the results are to that research group
-Larger the sample: more accurate the study
sample
group of people in one research study
population
-larger group of people you want the results of your study to apply to
-Should apply to general population of a certain country
frequency distribution
-averaging
-WHAT IS TRUE ON AVERAGE IS NOT TRUE ON ANY INDIVUDAL CASE
descriptive stats
essential information from a frequency distribution; mathematical measurements on entire data sets of single variable
central tendency: mean
average
central tendency: median
very middle value
central tendency: mode
value of most frequently occurring
measures of variability: range
value of largest measurement in a frequency distribution minus the value of smallest measurement
measures of variability: standard deviation
describes the average difference between measurements in a frequency distribution and the mean of that distribution
reliability:
tendency of instrument to produce same measurement whenever it is used to measure the same thing
validity
extent to which a concrete event defines a property