scientific method. bell ringer write what you know about the scientific method. how do you think it...
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Scientific Method
Bell ringer
Write what you know about the scientific method. How do you think it relates to psychology?
Take out a scratch piece of paper
Write a question you have about human behavior (one on each half)
EX: why did I/he/she. They do that? Think that? Live that way?
Fold your paper
Trade with up to five people without looking at the questions
Open your questions and read share them with the people around you
Discuss the questions/answers
Pick the question your group finds most interesting or intriguing
Read question out loud
Discuss how different psychologists would analyze
Scientific Method: Step 1
Select a topic
Step 2:
Develop a theory and Hypothesis
Theory: An organized system of ideas that seeks to explain why two or more events are related
EX: low self-esteem feeds depression
Hypothesis: An educated prediction about the nature of things based on a theory
Testable, makes a prediction, variables are specific
EX: People with low self-esteem score higher on a depression scale
Try it out! Write a hypothesis for the question you wrote
Write a hypothesis for one of the scientific questions
Does the size of a classroom affect learning?
Does age affect fundraising?
Create one in your group (topic, theory, hypothesis,)
Step 3
Select a scientific method and consider ethical issues
Method: Laboratory or natural setting
Sample: The group of subjects who are selected to participate
Random selection/sample: sample that fairly represents a population because all people have an equal chance of being chosen
Variables: Factors in study that can be measured and are capable of changing
How do we know our biases aren’t affecting the outcome??
Operational Definition: A very clear description of how a variable is measured
EX: How is aggression measured in a study on TV’s influence on violence
Replication: operational definition allows another researcher to repeat the study and test the findings
Is the Experiment ethical
Studies evaluated by a panel of scientists and non scientists
Priority always given to welfare of participants
****Handouts on human and animal guidelines (Is your experiment ethical?)
****Analyze Zimbardo Experiment
Step 4
Collect and Analyze data
Report results