The Scientific Method

Assumptions of the Scientific Method

1) rationalism

2) determinism

3) empiricism

1) Nature is lawful - eg gravity acts consistently an measureably.  Laws of nature are understandable.

2) Behavior is determined (NOT PRE-determined) - ie there are aspects in the environment that determine behavior

3) Nature is experienceable - ie the universe exists and we are able to experience it.

In order to accept the scientific method, contradictions with the assumptions must be suspended. 

Attitude must be objective and skeptic: question how well statements are formed (even of your own), be open to new info, and be comfortable with uncertainty (cannot prove anything, can only reduce uncertainty)

ie how you come to know something -

intuition/belief/superstition

personal experience

common sense/tenacity

authority

logical reasoning/rationalism

1) Generation of interest

2) Theory or Anecdotal evidence (not systematic, happened a few times)

3) Theory (may be skipped if there isn't already a theory)

4) Hypothesis (H0 and H1)

5) Operational definitions

6) Prediction

7) Collect data

8) Analyze data

9) Present findings

10) Present findings again

Theory

Hypothesis

1) Criteria

statement of what we think answers our question and we hope is true

- statement/prediction of how 2 or more variables are related

1) testable

falisifiable

precise

rational

parsimonious

Types of Hypotheses

1) Causal vs. descriptive

 2) directional vs. nondirectional

1) descriptive describes relationship or phenomenon

2) directional is one way, nondirec. can go either of two ways (eg "attitudes affect cancer" - if don't say in what way, then is nondirectional vs. saying that women are more likely to ask for company to the restroom, which is directional)

Null (H0) vs Alternative (H1) Hypothesis

mutually exclusive - if one is true, the other has to be false

 -null hyp. is what is tested.  If results can be explained within null model, retain model.  If sig. dif. between conditions, reject null hyp. and accept effects as real.

-alt. hyp. states the hypothesis you belive to be true.

criteria for evidence

**MORE INFO??**

empirical

observable

systematic

controlled

replicable

1) personal experience - unsystematic obs, systematic obs, inductive method (anecdotal evidence --> hyp. skip theory)

2) need to solve a practical proble

3) theory

1) inductive method: observation of specific facts to get ideas about general relationships

(specific --> general)

2) deductive method

(general --> specific)