Experimental Psych Notes Part1 PDF

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Scope is Experimental introduction and types and characteristics...

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Experimental Psychology 1st Preliminary Handouts Chapter I: Experimental Psychology & Scientific Method

Faith of Authority 

Science 

an

e.g. 1. Your mother told you that when a

It is also a process – that is an

black cat passed by at your front you

activity that includes the systematic

will have a bad luck or day with this

ways in which we go about gathering noting

relationships,

you believe without questioning it.

and

offering explanation. Methodology 

validity of

test its truthfulness.

comes from the Latin word scientia,

data,

accept the

information without questioning it or

which simply means knowledge. 

We

Reason 

The use of logic with premise and conclusion in a series of statements.

Scientific techniques used to collect

e.g.

and evaluate psychological data.

All Christians are worshiping every Sunday. Romeo is a Christian. Therefore, Romeo is worshipping

Ways of Knowing

every Sunday. Authority Take note: does the premises assures 

Whenever we “accept the validity of the truthfulness of the conclusion?

information from a source that we judge to be an expert or influential”.

Experience (Empiricism)

e.g. 1. A student absorbs the information that the professor taught him. 2. A doctor advertises in tv that the medicine that you will take will help aid to cure your cancer.



The process of learning things through

direct

observation

and

experiences. We use our senses to translate experiences.

or

interpret

those

Experimental Psychology 1st Preliminary Handouts Types of biases (Non-Scientific

It includes the precise

Sources of Data):

phenomena being measured, reliable and

o Belief perseverance - it is a

definitions of

valid tools that yield useful and interpretable

tendency to hold on a belief

data,

even if evidence speaks that

methodologies, and system f logic for

it is false.

drawing conclusions into general theories

o Confirmation

bias

–

a

generally

accepted

research

Produces Public Knowledge

tendency to pay out special attention to information that



Procedures result in knowledge that

supports one belief while

can be publicly verified. Objectivity

ignoring the information that

eliminating

contradicts it.

expectation and bias.

o Availability heuristic – we

human

factor

such

Produces Data-Based Conclusions

sometimes overestimate how often such event typically occurs.



Conclusions are derived from data or supported by data. Evidence of objective information was gathered through systematic procedure. For

Science as a Way of Knowing

instance, a claim made by a college admissions director that this year’s

Assumes Determinism 

incoming class is better prepared

The basic assumption that all events

than any in recent memory.

have causes.

Things to consider in data:

e.g

o Type and amount of data collected

1. Teddy have more likely to have schizophrenia in the sense that his grandfather, uncle and cousin has diagnosed with the same illness Systematic Observation

o How terms were defined in the study o Exact procedures used to collect data. o Statistical analysis

Experimental Psychology 1st Preliminary Handouts it. A critically important attribute of

Produces Tentative Conclusions

a good theory is that it must be

Conclusions are always tentative, subject to

precise and can be disproven, this

revision based on new research. Science is

principle is called falsification.

self-correcting, it’s conclusions were never absolute, yet there is confidence that research will eventually get one ever closer

Recognizing Pseudoscience 

Associates with True Science



Relies with Anecdotal Evidences

Example:



Sidesteps Disproof

During medieval times if you are crazy you

Pseudoscience – came from the Greek

are portrayed as witch. At today’s time

word means false. It is a field of study

mental illness was due to some reasons

that gives the appearance to be scientific

maybe it can be biological, psychological or

but has no true scientific basis and has

social.

not been confirmed using scientific

Science Asks Answerable Questions

method.

to the truth.



Empirical

questions

answered

through

observations

and

are

those

Examples:

systematic

technique

that

characterize scientific methodology. Example:



Phrenology



Horoscopes



Mesmerism



Spiritualism

Does helping behavior decline if the cost of helping outweights the benefit?

Characteristics of Modern Science Scientific Mentality

Science Develops Theories That Can Be Disproven 

Theory is a set of statements that summarize propose phenomena and provide working explanations about



Psychologist goal of prediction rests on

a

simple,

but

important

assumption: Behavior must follow natural order. Therefore, it can be predicted. It is postulated that faith in

Experimental Psychology 1st Preliminary Handouts an organized universe is essential in

follow

science.

agreement with our predictions or

 Data

that

are

data,

whether

in

not.

Gathering Empirical Data 

from

observable

Parsimony is important aspect of

or

good thinking. It is sometimes called

experience. Data that can be verified

Occam’s razor. William Occam

or disproved investigation.

postulate that entities should not multiplied

Seeking General Principles

without

necessity.

It

simply means that it should be 

When principles have the generality to apply to all the situations, it is

simple,

precise

and

clarity

of

thought.

called law. 

Theories pull together to unify,

Objectives of Psychological Science

diverse sets of scientific facts into an

Description

organizing scheme, such as general principles or set of rules, that can be



account

Good Thinking

towards

of

the

observed

characteristics

of

behaviors.

greater knowledge of behaviors because they provide us with the

interpretation of data should be

information of what behavior

systematic, objective, and rational.

looks like.

Scientists avoids private beliefs or

Examples:

expectations influence observations conclusions.

step

Good description it allow us

Approach to the collection and

or

initial

refers to systematic and unbiased

Hypothesis is an educated guess that tests prediction or observable data.



is

understanding a phenomenon. It

predict new examples of behavior. 

It

Good

Case Studies and Field Studies

thinking

includes open to new ideas when

Prediction

they contradict our prior beliefs or attitudes. Good thinking also follows the rules of logic. Conclusions will



Second objective, refers to the capacity for knowing in advance when

certain

behaviors

are

Experimental Psychology 1st Preliminary Handouts expected to occur- to be able to

Control

predict them ahead of time –

The fourth objective, refers to the

because we have identified other

application

conditions

with

which

the

learned about behavior. Once

behaviors

are

linked

or

behavior

what

explained

experimentation,

associated with.

has

it

been

through may

be

possible to use that knowledge to Example:

effect

Death of a parent is associated

behavior.

with grief. We all know that a

Example:

change

or

improved

o Clinical researcher might

person will grief if a parent will die recently.

conduct an experiment to

Designs for this are correlation

test

and quasi-experimental designs.

behavior

whether

cognitive therapy

alleviates grief. Explanation Third objective, it includes the knowledge of the conditions that

The

reliably reproduce the occurrence

Psychological Science

of

a

behavior.

To

explain

behavior, typical design use is experimental

in

which

Scientific

Method:

Tools Observation

it

Tools

of

Definition Systematic and

noting

recording

of

systematically manipulate aspect

events. Only events

of the setting with the intention

that are observable

of producing specific behavior.

can

At the same time, control of

scientifically.

other factors that might influence the

behavior

during

Measurement

be

studied

The assignment of

the

numerical values to

experiment. Only results in the

objects or events or

experiment allow us to make

their characteristics

inference about cause and effect.

Experimental Psychology 1st Preliminary Handouts according

to

conventional

rules.

We assign numbers to

different

quantities,

sizes,

qualities

Scientific Explanations in Psychological Science Identifying

Circumstances

that

Antecedent

come

before

the

Conditions

event

or

of the event under

that

observation. Experimentation

It

is

a

hypothesis

that

will

compare

Treatment

different

treatment

Conditions

conditions so that we can

certain

When

experimenting

we

of

systematically

and

scientifically.

And

different

antecedent conditions and then

our

measure

about

their

behavior to ascertain

observable behavior under

explanation

to the

aspects of the setting

predictions

our

also we expose them

systematically

verify

test

behaviors

specifiable

situations.

to

to

we

occur

reliably in

manipulate

want

Comparing

particular behavioral

and

we

explain. process

undertaken to test a

events

behavior

specific

conditions.

whether

different

treatments

produce

predictably different outcomes. The

Psychology Is

Experiment

a

controlled

procedure in which at least two different treatment conditions are

applied

to

Experimental Psychology 1st Preliminary Handouts subjects.

The

responsible fashion that avoids or minimizes

subjects

then

harm. Because psychologists' scientific and

and

professional judgments and actions may

compared to test a

affect the lives of others, they are alert to

hypothesis about the

and guard against personal, financial, social,

effects of treatments

organizational, or political factors that might

on behavior.

lead

measured

Establishing

to

misuse

of

their

influence.

Cause Sets of antecedent

Psychologists strive to be aware of the

conditions that leads

possible effect of their own physical and

to

mental health on their ability to help those

and Effect

a

particular

with whom they work.

behavior. Necessary

vs. Conditions

Sufficient

provide

Conditions

explanation

that

substantial

Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility

to

explain behavior.

Psychologists establish relationships of trust with those with whom they work. They are aware of their professional and scientific

Chapter II: Research Ethics

responsibilities to society and to the specific Principle

A:

Beneficence

and

Nonmaleficence

communities

in

which

they

work.

Psychologists uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify their professional roles

Psychologists strive to benefit those with

and

whom they work and take care to do no

responsibility for their behavior, and seek to

harm.

actions,

manage conflicts of interest that could lead

psychologists seek to safeguard the welfare

to exploitation or harm. Psychologists

and rights of those with whom they interact

consult with, refer to, or cooperate with

professionally and other affected persons,

other professionals and institutions to the

and the welfare of animal subjects of

extent needed to serve the best interests of

research. When conflicts occur among

those with whom they work. They are

psychologists' obligations or concerns, they

concerned about the ethical compliance of

attempt to resolve these conflicts in a

their colleagues' scientific and professional

In

their

professional

obligations,

accept

appropriate

Experimental Psychology 1st Preliminary Handouts conduct. Psychologists strive to contribute a

reasonable judgment and take precautions to

portion of their professional time for little or

ensure that their potential biases, the

no compensation or personal advantage.

boundaries of their competence, and the limitations of their expertise do not lead to

Principle

C:

Integrity

or condone unjust practices.

Psychologists seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science,

Principle E: Respect for People's Rights

teaching, and practice of psychology. In

and Dignity

these activities psychologists do not steal, cheat or engage in fraud, subterfuge, or

Psychologists respect the dignity and worth

intentional

of all people, and the rights of individuals to

misrepresentation

of

fact.

Psychologists strive to keep their promises

privacy,

and

unclear

determination. Psychologists are aware that

which

special safeguards may be necessary to

deception may be ethically justifiable to

protect the rights and welfare of persons or

maximize benefits and minimize harm,

communities whose vulnerabilities impair

psychologists have a serious obligation to

autonomous decision making. Psychologists

consider

possible

are aware of and respect cultural, individual,

consequences of, and their responsibility to

and role differences, including those based

correct any resulting mistrust or other

on age, gender, gender identity, race,

harmful effects that arise from the use of

ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion,

such techniques.

sexual orientation, disability, language, and

to

avoid

commitments.

the

unwise

In

or

situations

need

for,

in

the

confidentiality,

and

self-

socioeconomic status, and consider these factors when working with members of such

Principle D: Justice

groups. Psychologists try to eliminate the Psychologists recognize that fairness and

effect on their work of biases based on those

justice entitle all persons to access to and

factors,

benefit from the contributions of psychology

participate in or condone activities of others

...