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Dr. John M. Morgan
REQUIRED TEXT: Experimental Methodology eighth edition by Larry B. Christensen, Allyn and Bacon, 2001 ISBN #0-205-30832-5 ------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter 1 What is NOT Science? Tenacity -- Acquisition and Persistence of Superstitions from mere exposure -- stronger the more frequent the exposure, e.g. Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory. Intuition -- Certainty without reasoning or inferring --"Hunches". Authority – Acceptance of information from respected source without review. Rationalism – Assumes that valid knowledge is acquired if the correct reasoning process is used – e.g. Philosophy. What is Science? Uses the Scientific Method: Empirically testing ideas & beliefs through research questions testable hypotheses stated in testable form capable of being refuted Specific testing procedure precisely stated hypotheses extraneous variables controlled sample of participants precise instructions to participants reliable testing instruments measured response specified debrief participants analyze & interpret data Open to public inspection & criticism no private science communicate results through professional journals formal conventions presentations informal association meetings Therefore, observations are independent of opinions, bias & prejudice analysis & interpretations open to public Characteristics: Control of contamination: eliminate influence of extraneous variables that may affect results allow only one variable to change at a time to isolate cause of an effect. Operational Definitions: behavior defined by operations used to measure e.g. reaction time, speed of learning e.g. anger, hope Replication: results are reliable and repeatable repeat experiment on different group of participants on different individuals of same group on same participants in different environment failure: previous results due to chance one or more variables in second has changed from first experiment experimenter characteristics Objectives of Science: Description: identify variables' characteristics Explanation: identify antecedent conditions the lead to behavior Prediction: accuracy confirms explanation Control: behavior changed by allowing antecedent variables to occur or not Assumptions of Science: Determinism: causes & uniformity in nature reality in nature: sensations are real rationality: events can be explained logically, nature is not capricious regularity: natural laws are consistent discoverability: nature will give up its secrets Science is theory based. Theory summarizes data & suggests new hypotheses for testing. Theory is the best & most certain we humans can be. Absolute knowledge is not available to us. ------------------------------------------------------------ My office is in room 116C of HGH (826-4571) and I invite you to consult with me on any matter during my office hours or any time that is agreeable to you and me.Go back to the beginning
