Research Methods Chapter 1

Psychology: is the scientific study of an individual’s thought and behavior. It has 2 aspects - practice and science.

Authority: relying on who we consider an “expert” the information is accepted without questions. 

Reasoning: using logic but should be verifiable. 

Deductive reasoning: backing up a generalized reasoning with specific scenarios.

Inductive reasoning: generalized reasoning based on specific scenario.

Empiricism:  learning things through direct observation, experience or reflection (individualistic).

Empirical questions: answered through systematic observations and techniques. 

Science: objective, assessing reality without our individual bias, beliefs, or feelings.

Attributes of science: Determinism, Systematic Observations, Public Knowledge, Data Based Conclusions, Tentative Conclusions, Answerable Questions, and Theories that can be Falsified.

Determinism: every event has a cause. 

Tentative conclusion: not fixed and open to changes. 

Pseudoscience: field of enquiry that appears to use scientific methods but is actually based on inadequate and unscientific methods. 

Goals of research: describe, explain, predict, OR apply.