Psychology – The SciencePsychology – The Science

AP PsychologyAP Psychology

Ms. DesgrosellierMs. Desgrosellier

9.23.20099.23.2009

Objectives:Objectives:

SWBAT explain how the scientific attitude SWBAT explain how the scientific attitude encourages critical thinking.encourages critical thinking.

SWBAT describe how psychological SWBAT describe how psychological theories guide scientific researchtheories guide scientific research

SWBAT explain the value of simplified SWBAT explain the value of simplified laboratory conditions in discovering laboratory conditions in discovering general principles of behaviorgeneral principles of behavior

The Scientific AttitudeThe Scientific Attitude

Three parts:Three parts:

Curiosity: a hard-headed passion to Curiosity: a hard-headed passion to explore and understand without explore and understand without misleading or being misledmisleading or being misled– Does it work? Can predictions be confirmed Does it work? Can predictions be confirmed

when put to the test?when put to the test?– Sometimes, science supports crazy-sounding Sometimes, science supports crazy-sounding

ideas, but more often, it refutes them.ideas, but more often, it refutes them.

The Scientific AttitudeThe Scientific Attitude

SkepticismSkepticism– Two questions: What do you mean? How do Two questions: What do you mean? How do

you know?you know?– Show me the evidence.Show me the evidence.

The Scientific AttitudeThe Scientific Attitude

HumilityHumility– As researchers, we may have to reject our As researchers, we may have to reject our

own ideasown ideas– Our opinions don’t matter - the truth does.Our opinions don’t matter - the truth does.

The Scientific AttitudeThe Scientific Attitude

These three attitudes helped make These three attitudes helped make modern science possiblemodern science possible

Scientists today still check and recheck Scientists today still check and recheck each other’s findings and conclusionseach other’s findings and conclusions

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

Examines assumptions, discerns hidden Examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assess values, evaluates evidence, and assess conclusions.conclusions.

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

Make observations, form theories, and Make observations, form theories, and then refine their theories in the light of new then refine their theories in the light of new observations.observations.Scientific theoryScientific theory: an explanation using an : an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations.and predicts observations.A good theory organizes the large amount A good theory organizes the large amount of observations and information into a of observations and information into a short list of principlesshort list of principlesIt It mustmust produce testable predictions produce testable predictions

HypothesisHypothesis

a testable prediction, often implied by a a testable prediction, often implied by a theorytheory

enable us to test and reject or revise the enable us to test and reject or revise the theory, and give direction to research.theory, and give direction to research.

Astrology ExperimentAstrology Experiment

What do you know about astrology? Do What do you know about astrology? Do you know much about your zodiac sign?you know much about your zodiac sign?

Generate some hypotheses based on the Generate some hypotheses based on the assumptions you think astrologers make assumptions you think astrologers make about human behavior. It should be about human behavior. It should be testable!testable!

E.g. hypothesis: personality types are E.g. hypothesis: personality types are associated with particular zodiac signs.associated with particular zodiac signs.

The ZodiacThe ZodiacE: Aries (March 21 – April 19)E: Aries (March 21 – April 19)B: Taurus (April 20 – May 20)B: Taurus (April 20 – May 20)C: Gemini (May 21 – June 21)C: Gemini (May 21 – June 21)A: Cancer (June 22 – July 22)A: Cancer (June 22 – July 22)F: Leo (July 23 – August 22)F: Leo (July 23 – August 22)D: Virgo (August 23 – September 22)D: Virgo (August 23 – September 22)K: Libra (September 23 – October 22K: Libra (September 23 – October 22H: Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)H: Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)I: Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)I: Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)L: Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)L: Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)J: Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)J: Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)G: Pisces (February 19 – March 20)G: Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Astrology ExperimentAstrology Experiment

Zodiac sign is our independent variable; Zodiac sign is our independent variable; choice of profile is the dependent variablechoice of profile is the dependent variable

If hypothesis is correct, the number of If hypothesis is correct, the number of correct matches should exceed the correct matches should exceed the number of incorrect matches (ideally, there number of incorrect matches (ideally, there should be NO incorrect matches)should be NO incorrect matches)

On chance alone, 16.6% should be correct On chance alone, 16.6% should be correct (1 in 6 chance of guessing your sign; ~4)(1 in 6 chance of guessing your sign; ~4)

Operational definitionsOperational definitions

A statement of the procedures (operations) used A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. to define research variables. For example, For example, human intelligencehuman intelligence may be may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.measures.Allow for Allow for replicationreplication: repeating the essence of a : repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and finding extends to other participants and circumstances.circumstances.If repeat studies get similar results, our If repeat studies get similar results, our confidence in our findings increases. confidence in our findings increases.

Operational DefinitionsOperational Definitions

With your table, try to come up with an With your table, try to come up with an operational definition for some human operational definition for some human emotion.emotion.

What behavior could you observe that What behavior could you observe that would indicate your emotion?would indicate your emotion?

Share with the class, who will guess the Share with the class, who will guess the emotion you are describing.emotion you are describing.

If they can guess it, it is probably a good If they can guess it, it is probably a good definition.definition.

Bottom Line on TheoriesBottom Line on Theories

They are useful if:They are useful if:– they effectively organize a range of self-they effectively organize a range of self-

reports and observationsreports and observations– imply clear predictions that anyone can use to imply clear predictions that anyone can use to

check the theory or to derive practical check the theory or to derive practical applications.applications.

LaboratoriesLaboratories

Does people’s behavior in laboratory experiment Does people’s behavior in laboratory experiment settings accurately reflect real life?settings accurately reflect real life?

Laboratories act as simplified reality - one that Laboratories act as simplified reality - one that simulates and controls important features of simulates and controls important features of everyday life to allow focused study of one or everyday life to allow focused study of one or two specific behaviors.two specific behaviors.

Allow researchers to rule out effects from other Allow researchers to rule out effects from other factors factors

Studies have shown that people will act similarly Studies have shown that people will act similarly in and outside a lab.in and outside a lab.

LaboratoriesLaboratories

The goal is to test theories: it is the The goal is to test theories: it is the resulting principles - not the specific resulting principles - not the specific findings - that help explain everyday findings - that help explain everyday behaviors.behaviors.

As psychologists, our concerns lie less As psychologists, our concerns lie less with particular behaviors than with the with particular behaviors than with the general principles that help explain many general principles that help explain many behaviors.behaviors.

ObjectiveObjective

SWBAT discuss whether psychological SWBAT discuss whether psychological research can be generalized across research can be generalized across cultures and genders.cultures and genders.

CultureCulture

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one people and transmitted from one generation to the next.generation to the next.

Culture matters! It influences Culture matters! It influences EVERYTHING.EVERYTHING.

Because of globalization, we need to be Because of globalization, we need to be culturally aware.culturally aware.

CultureCulture

Differences: social expectations, body Differences: social expectations, body language, values, etc.language, values, etc.Still, we are all biologically human and Still, we are all biologically human and there are obvious (and not-so-obvious) there are obvious (and not-so-obvious) similaritiessimilarities– e.g. people diagnosed with dyslexia exhibit e.g. people diagnosed with dyslexia exhibit

the same brain malfunction whether they are the same brain malfunction whether they are Italian, French, or BritishItalian, French, or British

– We all have basic human needs: food, sleep, We all have basic human needs: food, sleep, etc.etc.

CultureCulture

Bottom line: even when specific attitudes Bottom line: even when specific attitudes and behaviors vary across cultures, the and behaviors vary across cultures, the underlying processes are much the same.underlying processes are much the same.

GenderGender

Gender is important to our identity, starting Gender is important to our identity, starting from birthfrom birth

Researchers study differencesResearchers study differences– e.g. how we carry on conversationse.g. how we carry on conversations

However, men and women are However, men and women are overwhelmingly similaroverwhelmingly similar

Bottom line: gender matters, but both Bottom line: gender matters, but both genders are similarly human.genders are similarly human.