Scientific Foundations Of Psychology Week Two

Nominal Definition Of Concepts

Deals with the concept from a theoretical perspective

Operational Definition Of Concept

Deals with the concepts in measureable terms

Nominal

Use to name, catergorise or classify

• no result is bigger or better than the other result

Ordinal

Used to rank order objects lr individuals

• natural, meaningful way to order possibilities

Interval

Used to rank order and have equal interval or distances between adjacent numbers

• different numerical values make it genuinely meaningful

• Uses additon and subtraction

Ratio

Full quantative, includes rank ordering, equal intervals and has an absolute zero point

• Multiplcation and divison can be used to compare results

Continuous Variables

For any two variables you can think of, it is logically possible to have another value in between

Discrete Variable

A variable that isn't continuous. Sometimes the case that there is nothing in the middle

Internal Consistency Reliability

If a measurement is constructued from lots of different parts that perform similar functions do the individual parts tend to give the same answers

Parallel Forms Reliability

Consistency across theorietically-equivalent measurements. If i use different bathroom scales to measure my weight, will it give the same anser

WEIRD

• Western

• Educated

• Industrialised

• Rich

• Democratic

Paradigm

involves a basic framework of assumptions and principles used by a scientific community, or set of norms, that tell scientists how to think and behave.

Prescience

Before scientific consensus in reached, often disorganised

Normal Science

Immediately follows pre-sceince, meaning paradigm is established and scientific work progresses towards solving problems encountered by paradigm

Model Drift

Certain challenges arise in scientific literature that can't be solved using current paradigm

Model Crisis

Anomalies are sufficiently numerous or serious enough to undermine assumptions of paradigm. Two things can occur: 1) If anomalies are resolved, crisis is over and normal science is returned. 2) If anomalies aren't resolved, scientific revolution occurs resulting in paradigm shift

Model Revolution

Follows crisis, in which it leads to new paradigms being explored that bettwe explain the observations and offer a model that is closer to objective, external reality

Paradigm Change

Occurs after crisis and revolution, leading to a new paradigm being adopted. This new paradigm explains observations and resolves anomalies better than the old paladigm

Operationlization

Define abstract concepts in measureable terms, allowing for empricial observartion

Evidence-Based Definitions Are Important Because

Limits bias and assumptions -> Evidence vs Assumption (may not have experience in question we are asking

- Reduce researcher bias through getting other opinions to make sure we take in lots of perspectives

- improvising definition and accuracy is important to solidify interpretations, conclusions and measurement

- Inclusive practise: Perspective of individual (Not researching on people, but researching with people)

Theory Of Mind: Mind Reading

Trying to understand why people are behaving the way they are through putting ourselves in others shoes

• Doesnt develop until the ages of 3-5

Mind Reading Challenges

Only have access to our own mental state, with others not being directly accessible

Intentional Stance Theory

To account for how we predict/understand others mental states

Gamblers Fallacy

Believe that the probability of an independent event is affected by a series of previous occurances

Evan’s And Over Notions Of rationality

1. Thinking that is generally reliable for achieving our goals

2. Thinking which conforms to the correct theory

How knowlegde Is Processed In Psychology

• Intuition

• Authority

• Rationalism

• Empiricism

• Scientific Method

WEIRD

• Western

• Educated

• Industrialised

• Rich

• Democratic

Paradigm Process

• Prescience

• Normal Science

• Crisis

• Revolution

Prescience

Disorganised, constant debate, multiple theories, before scientific consensus

Normal Science

Pardigm is established and works to solve problems thrown up by paradigm

Crisis

Anomalies are sufficiently numerous or serious to undermine asumptions

Revolution

New paradigm will be adopted, and it explains observations and resolves anomalies better than the old paradigm

Traditional Mathods

Looks at assumptions and see’s if they are uniform and recognises what is missing

Assumption

Uses previous knwoeldge to determine something and come to a conclusion

Characteristics

Can be very different depending on people, how they aim to control and operationalise in order to determine characteritsics in a proper, scientific way

Role Of Theory

Generate ideas and draw on traditional methods

• logic of theory and justification logic of justification aims to highlight whether what we are asking is correct

Operationalization

Define abstract concepts in measurable terms, allowing for empirical observation

• Basically, you provide examples and give a way for people to understand how a term can be defined and what can be done to discover something

Nominal Scale

Distinguish groups from others, however the groups may be arbitrary

• are you happy? Yes or no

Ordinal Scale

One thing can be seen as higher than another

• How happy are you now?

• not at all, slightly, moderately, very, extremely

Interval/Ratio Scales

Means there is compariability between a score on one part of the scale in comparison to the other

Tell me how happy you are: Then, they can choose a spot on a bar between a happy and sad face

Difference Between Ratio and Interval

ratio actually has a zero o it, where interval has no true zero