Post on 30-Dec-2015
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CHAPTER 1CHAPTER 1
SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF BEHAVIOR
LEARNING OBJECTIVESLEARNING OBJECTIVES
Explain the reasons for understanding research methods
Describe the scientific approach to learning about behavior, and contrast it with pseudoscientific research
LEARNING OBJECTIVESLEARNING OBJECTIVES
Define and give examples of the four goals of scientific research: description, prediction, determination of cause, and explanation of behavior
Define and describe basic and applied research
USES OF RESEARCH METHODSUSES OF RESEARCH METHODS
Increasingly important in public policy and judicial decisions
Important when developing and assessing the effectiveness of goal oriented programs
USES OF RESEARCH METHODSUSES OF RESEARCH METHODS
Informed citizens increasingly need knowledge of research methods
Many occupations require the use of research findings
THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACHTHE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
Limitations of IntuitionIntuition relies unquestioningly on personal
judgment Involves cognitive and motivational biases
Erroneous conclusions about cause and effectExample: Illusory correlation
THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACHTHE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
• Examples of Authority• News media• Books• Government officials• Religious figures
THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACHTHE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
• Limitations of Authority• Many believe statements based on authority;
scientific approach rejects this notion and requires much more evidence before conclusions can be drawn
THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACHTHE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
Skepticism, Science, and the Empirical ApproachEmpiricismFalsifiabilityPeer review
Integrating Intuition, Skepticism, and Authority
Elements of Goodstein’s Evolved Elements of Goodstein’s Evolved Theory of ScienceTheory of Science
Observations accurately reported to others
+Search for discovery and verification of ideas
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Open exchange and competition among ideas
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Peer review of research
THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACHTHE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
• Characteristics of pseudoscience• Hypotheses generated are not typically testable• If scientific tests are reported, methodology is not
scientific and validity of data is questionable• Supportive evidence is anecdotal and does not cite
scientific references• Claims ignore conflicting evidence• Claims tend to be vague, and appeal to pre-conceived
ideas• Claims are never revised
GOALS OF SCIENCEGOALS OF SCIENCE
Description of Behavior Prediction of Behavior Determining the Causes of Behavior
Temporal precedenceCovariation of the cause and effectAlternative explanations
Explanation of Behavior
BASIC AND APPLIED BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCHRESEARCH
Basic ResearchFundamental questions about the nature
of behavior
- Theoretical issues often concern basic phenomena such as cognition, emotion, motivation, learning, psychobiology, personality development, and social behavior.
BASIC AND APPLIED BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCHRESEARCH
Applied ResearchConducted to address issues in which
there are practical problems and potential solutions.
Program evaluation
BASIC AND APPLIED BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCHRESEARCH
• Comparing Basic and Applied Research• Neither is considered superior to the other
• Applied research is often guided by theories and findings of basic research
• Findings in applied settings often require modification of existing theories and spur more basic research
• Basic research is crucial to public policy