Chapter 1: Scientific Understanding of Behaviour

Question 1

What is the research process?

Answer 1

1. Generate Idea
2. Consult Past Research
3. State Hypothesis
4. Design Study
5. Obtain Ethics Approval
6. Collect Data
7. Analyze Data
8. Conduct New Study to Replicate or Extend Results (optional)
9. Write Manuscript
10. Submit Manuscript to Peer-Reviewed Journal

Question 2

What do the fields of psychology all have in common?

Answer 2

Psychological scientists do research to improve knowledge and understanding of human behaviour

Question 3

How can we acquire knowledge?

Answer 3

• Intuition
• Authority
• The Scientific Method

Question 4

How do we acquire knowledge from intuition?

Answer 4

anecdotal evidence, experience, opinion

Question 5

How do we acquire knowledge from authority?

Answer 5

source of power or control (e.g., news media, government, publications, researchers, others experts)

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of acquiring knowledge from intuition and authority?

Answer 6

these methods do not involve critical thinking (analyzing evidence) and it is subject to bias of others or others’ limitations

Question 7

How do we acquire knowledge from The Scientific Method?

Answer 7

Researchers do not accept knowledge attained from intuition or authority/experts as truth without further evidence

Question 8

What are the two parts of the scientific method that differentiates from intuition and authority?

Answer 8

• scientific skepticism
• empiricism

Question 9

What is scientific skepticism?

Answer 9

seek out and evaluate evidence rather than unthinkingly accepting information as truth

Question 10

What is empiricism?

Answer 10

acquiring knowledge through systematic observations of behaviour

Question 11

What is the advantage of using the scientific method?

Answer 11

• it is an objective, systematic way to collect, evaluate, and report information about human behaviour that is less affected by biases
• relies on empirical questions

Question 12

What are empirical questions?

Answer 12

falsifiable and answered through systematic observations

Question 13

What are the four goals of psychological research?

Answer 13

1. Describing Behaviour
2. Predicting Behaviour
3. Determining the Cause(s) of Behaviour
4. Explaining Behaviour

Question 14

What is Describing Behaviour?

Answer 14

what happens, when does it happen, for whom, how often does it happen?

Question 15

What is Predicting Behaviour?

Answer 15

when will behaviour occur/not occur?

Question 16

What is Determining the Causes(s) of Behaviour?

Answer 16

related to predicting but relies on additional criteria:
1. covariation of cause and effect
2. temporal precedence
3. no other alternative explanation

Question 17

What is Explaining Behaviour?

Answer 17

why does a behaviour occur or change?

Question 18

What are the two types of research?

Answer 18

basic and applied research

Question 19

What is Basic Research?

Answer 19

answers fundamental questions about the nature of behaviour

Question 20

What is Applied Research?

Answer 20

addresses practical, real world problems, with goal of finding solutions