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Thinking Critically with Psychological

Science

Module 2

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Impression of Psychology Hoping to satisfy curiosity, many people

listen to talk-radio counselors and psychics to know about others and themselves.

Dr. Crane (radio-shrink)

http://ww

w.nbc.com

http://ww

w.photovault.com

Psychic (Ball gazing)

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Hindsight Bias is the “I-knew-it-all-along” phenomenon.

We tend to believe, after learning about an outcome, that we would have foreseen it.

Hindsight Bias

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OverconfidenceWe tend to think we know more than we actually do.

Anagram

BARGEGRABE

ENTRYETYRN

WATERWREAT

How long do you think would it take to unscramble

these anagrams?

People said about 10 seconds. On average they

took about 3 minutes (Goranson, 1978).

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Scientific Method

Psychologists, like all scientists, use the scientific method to construct

theories that organize, summarize and simplify observations.

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Theory is an explanation that integrates principles, organizes and

predicts behaviors or events.

For example, low self-esteem contributes to depression.

Theory

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Hypothesis is a testable prediction, often induced by a theory, to enable

us to accept, reject or revise the theory.

People with low self-esteem are apt to feel more depressed.

Hypothesis

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Research - Individuals who score low on self-esteem measures and high on depression tests, would confirm our

hypothesis.

Research Observations

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Research Process

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FAQ

Q4. Why do psychologists study animals?

Ans: Study of animals gives us understanding of many behaviors that may have common

biology across animals and humans.

D. Shapiro, © Wildlife Conservation Society

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Psychology and the Scientific Method

• Scientific method - system of gathering data so that bias and error in measurement are reduced.

• Steps in the Scientific Method:1. Conceptualize the question.

2. Gather data

3. Form a theory and then a specific hypothesis –prediction of a phenomenon based on observations.

4. Test the hypothesis.

5. Draw conclusions.

6. Report your results so that others can try to replicate

Psychology is a science; steps in scientific method

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• Operational definition

• Replicate

• the “Mozart effect.”– Based the results of a single study,

researchers claimed that listening to classical music could improve cognitive functioning.

– Several other studies have failed to replicate

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FAQ

Q5. Is it ethical to experiment on animals?

Q6. Is it ethical to experiment on people?

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FAQ

Q6. Is it ethical to experiment on people?

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FAQ

Q7. Is psychology free of value judgments?

Ans: No. Psychology emerges from people who subscribe to a set of values and judgments.

© Roger Shepard

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FAQ

Q8. Is psychology potentially dangerous?