myers’ psychology (7th ed)
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Myers’ PSYCHOLOGY (7th Ed). Chapter 1 Thinking Critically with Psychological Science James A. McCubbin, PhD Clemson University Worth Publishers. The Need for Psychological Science. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Myers’ PSYCHOLOGY
(7th Ed)
Chapter 1 Thinking Critically with Psychological Science
James A. McCubbin, PhDClemson University
Worth Publishers
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
The Need for Psychological Science
Psychologists, like all scientists, use the scientific method to
construct theories that organize observations and imply testable hypotheses
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
The Need for Psychological Science
Hindsight Bias we tend to believe, after learning an
outcome, that we would have foreseen it
the “I-knew-it-all-along” phenomenon Overconfidence
we tend to think we know more than we do
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
The Need for Psychological Science
Critical Thinking thinking that does
not blindly accept arguments and conclusions examines
assumptions discerns hidden
values evaluates evidence
The Amazing Randi--Skeptic
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
The Need for Psychological Science
Theory an explanation using an integrated
set of principles that organizes and predicts observations
Hypothesis a testable prediction often implied by a theory
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
The Need for Psychological Science
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
The Need for Psychological Science
Operational Definition a statement of procedures
(operations) used to define research variables
Example- intelligence may be operationally defined
as what an intelligence test measures
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
The Need for Psychological Science
Replication repeating the essence of a
research study to see whether the basic finding generalizes to other participants and circumstances
usually with different participants in different situations
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Description
Psychologists describe behavior using case studies,
surveys, and naturalistic observation
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Description
Case Study Psychologists
study one or more individuals in great depth in the hope of revealing things true of us all Is language uniquely human?
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Description
Survey technique for ascertaining the self-
reported attitudes or behaviors of people usually by questioning a representative,
random sample of people Random Sample
a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Description
False Consensus Effect tendency to overestimate the extent
to which others share our beliefs and behaviors
Population all the cases in a group, from which
samples may be drawn for a study
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Description
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Description
If marbles of two colors are mixed well in the large jar, the fastest way to know their ratio is to blindly transfer a few into a smaller one and count them
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Description
Naturalistic Observation observing and
recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Correlation Correlation Coefficient
a statistical measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus how well either factor predicts the other
Correlation coefficient
Indicates directionof relationship
(positive or negative)
Indicates strengthof relationship(0.00 to 1.00)
r = +.37
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Correlation
Scatterplot a graphed cluster of dots, each of which
represents the values of two variables the slope of the points suggests the
direction of the relationship the amount of scatter suggests the
strength of the correlation little scatter indicates high correlation
also called a scattergram or scatter diagram
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Correlation
Perfect positivecorrelation (+1.00)
No relationship (0.00) Perfect negativecorrelation (-1.00)
Scatterplots, showing patterns of correlations
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
CorrelationHeight and Temperament of 20 Men
123456789
10
11121314151617181920
80636179746962757760
64767166737063716870
75666090604242608139
48697257637530578439
SubjectHeight in
Inches Temperament SubjectHeight in
Inches Temperament
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Correlation
Scatterplot of Height and Temperament
55 60 65 70 75 80 85
959085807570656055504540353025
Temperamentscores
Height in inches
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
CorrelationThree Possible Cause-Effect Relationships
(1)Low self-esteem
Depression
(2)Depression
Low self-esteem
Low self-esteem
Depression
(3)Distressing events
or biologicalpredisposition
could cause
could cause
could cause
or
or
and
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Illusory Correlation
Illusory Correlation the
perception of a relationship where none exists
Conceive Do not conceive
Adopt
Do notadopt
disconfirming evidence
confirming evidence
disconfirming evidence
confirming evidence
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Two Random Sequences
Your chances of being dealt either of these hands is precisely the same: 1 in 2,598,960.
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Experimentation
Experiment an investigator manipulates one or
more factors (independent variables) to observe their effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable)
by random assignment of participants the experiment controls other relevant factors
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Experimentation Placebo
an inert substance or condition that may be administered instead of a presumed active agent, such as a drug, to see if it triggers the effects believed to characterize the active agent
Double-blind Procedure both the research participants and the
research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo
commonly used in drug-evaluation studies
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Experimentation
Experimental Condition the condition of an experiment that
exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable
Control Condition the condition of an experiment that
contrasts with the experimental treatment serves as a comparison for evaluating the
effect of the treatment
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Experimentation
Random Assignmentassigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance
minimizes pre-existing differences between those assigned to the different groups
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Experimentation Independent Variable
the experimental factor that is manipulated
the variable whose effect is being studied Dependent Variable
the experimental factor that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable
in psychology it is usually a behavior or mental process
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Experimentation
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Research Strategies
Design of the subliminal tapes experiment
Subliminal tape content
Self-esteem Memory
Memory
Self-esteem
Tape label
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Statistical Reasoning
Our Brand Brand BrandBrand X Y Z
100%
99
98
97
96
95
Percentagestill functioningafter 10 years
Brand of truck
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Statistical Reasoning
Our Brand Brand Brand Brand X Y Z
100%
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Percentagestill functioningafter 10 years
Brand of truck
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Statistical Reasoning Mode
the most frequently occurring score in a distribution
Mean the arithmetic average of a distribution obtained by adding the scores and then
dividing by the number of scores Median
the middle score in a distribution half the scores are above it and half are
below it
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Statistical Reasoning
A Skewed Distribution
15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 90 475 710
70
Mode Median Mean
One Family Income per family in thousands of dollars
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Statistical Reasoning
Range the difference between the highest and
lowest scores in a distribution Standard Deviation
a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean
Statistical Significance a statistical statement of how likely it is that
an obtained result occurred by chance
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Frequently Asked Questions about Psychology
Can laboratory experiments illuminate everyday life?
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Frequently Asked Questions about Psychology
Does behavior depend on ones culture? Culture--the enduring
behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Frequently Asked Questions about Psychology
Does behavior vary with gender?
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Frequently Asked Questions about Psychology
Why do psychologists study animals?
Is it ethical to experiment on animals?
Is it ethical to experiment on people?
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Frequently Asked Questions about Psychology
Is psychology free of value judgments?
Ch 1 Thinking Critically Psyc 100 2004
Frequently Asked Questions about Psychology
Is psychology potentially dangerous?