Psyc 3403
Lecture Overview
Date: 2/17/25
Topic: Nonscientific Approaches and Pseudosciences
Pseudosciences
Definition: Fields that appear scientific but do not adhere to the scientific method.
Examples: Astrology, graphology.
Issues with Personal Experiences:
Cannot validate information about human intuition and behavior.
Distinction between Authority and Expertise
Importance of differentiating between someone with authority and someone with expertise in a subject matter.
Authority may not always provide reliable information, whereas expertise is grounded in knowledge and research.
Hypothesis Development and Theory Testing
Good hypotheses should lead to results that relate to and support a theory.
Types of Outcomes When Testing Theories:
Evidence Insufficiency: Results may not provide enough evidence to support a theory.
Response: Design follow-up studies and collect more evidence for research.
Inadequate Explanations: Results may lead to rejecting the theory when it fails to explain the phenomenon adequately.
Adjustment: The theory may need modification to incorporate new results.
Growth of Theories
Theories evolve based on new findings and research outcomes.
Ideas for Research
Sources of Research Ideas:
Observations: Noticing phenomena that occur in the world.
Serendipity: Accidental discoveries, e.g., bystander intervention effect and parlor conditioning with dogs.
Resources for Psychology Research
Previous Research: Consult textbooks available in libraries for foundational knowledge.
Described as a "program of research" where researchers discuss current theories.
Importance of articles and teams of researchers investigating various psychological phenomena.