, Chapter 1
Thinking Like a Scientist
Chapter Outline
Areas of Psychological Research
Psychobiology
Cognition
Human Development
Social Psychology
Psychotherapy
Sources of Knowledge
Superstition and Intuition
Authority
Tenacity
Rationalism
Empiricism
Science
The Scientific (Critical Thinking) Approach and Psychology
Systematic Empiricism
Publicly Verifiable Knowledge
Empirically Solvable Problems
Basic and Applied Research
Goals of Science
Description
Prediction
Explanation
An Introduction to Research Methods in Science
Descriptive Methods
Predictive (Relational) Methods
Explanatory Method
Doing Science
Proof and Disproof
The Research Process
Summary
Review of Key Terms
Alternative Explanation—The idea that it is possible that there is some other uncontrolled variable that
may be responsible for the observed relationship.
Applied Research—The study of psychological issues that have practical significance and potential
solutions.
Basic Research—The study of psychological issues in order to seek knowledge for its own sake.
Case Study Method—An in-depth study of one or more individuals.
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,Control—Manipulating the independent variable in an experiment or any other extraneous variables that
could affect the results of a study.
Control Group—The group of participants that does not receive any level of the independent variable
and serves as the baseline in a study.
Correlational Method—A method in which the degree of relationship between two variables is assessed.
Dependent Variable—The variable in a study that is measured by the researcher.
Description—Carefully observing behavior in order to describe it.
Experimental Group—The group of participants that receives some level of the independent variable.
Experimental Method—A research method that allows a researcher to establish a cause-and-effect
relationship through manipulation of a variable and control of the situation.
Explanation—Identifying the causes that determine when and why a behavior occurs.
Hypothesis—A prediction regarding the outcome of a study, often involving the relationship between
two variables in a study.
Independent Variable—The variable in a study that is manipulated by the researcher.
Knowledge via Authority—Knowledge gained from those viewed as authority figures.
Knowledge via Empiricism—Knowledge gained through observation of organisms and events in the
real world.
Knowledge via Intuition—Knowledge gained without being consciously aware of its source.
Knowledge via Rationalism—Knowledge gained through logical reasoning.
Knowledge via Science—Knowledge gained through a combination of empirical methods and logical
reasoning.
Knowledge via Superstition—Knowledge that is based on subjective feelings, belief in chance, or belief
in magic events.
Knowledge via Tenacity—Knowledge gained from repeated ideas and stubbornly clung to despite
evidence to the contrary.
Laboratory Observation—Observing the behavior of humans or other animals in a more contrived and
controlled situation, usually the laboratory.
Naturalistic Observation—Observing the behavior of humans or other animals in their natural habitat.
Negative Relationship—A relationship between two variables in which an increase in one variable is
accompanied by a decrease in the other variable.
Observational Methods—Make observations of human or other animal behavior.
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, Participant (Subject) Variable—A characteristic inherent in the participants that cannot be changed.
Population—All of the people about whom a study is meant to generalize.
Positive Relationship—A relationship between two variables in which an increase in one variable is
accompanied by an increase in the other variable.
Prediction—Identifying the factors that indicate when an event or events will occur.
Principle of Falsifiability—The idea that a scientific theory must be stated in such a way that it is
possible to refute or disconfirm it.
Pseudoscience—Making claims that appear to be scientific but that actually violate the criteria of
science.
Public Verification—Presenting research to the public so that it can be observed, replicated, criticized,
and tested.
Quasi-experimental Method—A study in which the variable of interest cannot be manipulated.
Random Assignment—Assigning participants randomly to the groups in a study.
Random Sample—A means of generating a representative sample.
Sample—The group of people who participate in a study.
Skeptic—A person who questions the validity, authenticity, or truth of something purporting to be
factual.
Solvable Problems—Questions that are potentially answerable by means of currently available research
techniques.
Survey Method—Questioning individuals on a topic or topics and then describing their responses.
Systematic Empiricism—Making observations in a systematic manner in order to test hypotheses and
refute or develop a theory.
Theory—An organized system of assumptions and principles that attempts to explain certain phenomena
and how they are related.
Variable—An event or behavior that has at least two values.
Relevant Articles from Handbook for Teaching Statistics and Research Methods (1st ed.)
Chamberlain, K. Teaching the practical research course. Pp. 106-110.
Glenwick, D. S. & Burka, A. A. Relevance rides again: Enhancing the attractiveness of undergraduate
research experiences. Pp. 151-152.
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