Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

16 CHAPTER 1 Introduction and Research MethodsThe Scientific MethodKey Theme• The scientific method is a set of assumptions, attitudes, and proceduresthat guide all scientists, including psychologists, in conducting research.Key Questions• What assumptions and attitudes are held by psychologists?• What characterizes each step of the scientific method?• How does a hypothesis differ from a theory?The four basic goals of psychology are to (1) describe, (2) explain, (3) predict, and(4) control or influence behavior and mental processes. To achieve these goals, psychologistsrely on the scientific method. The scientific method refers to a set of assumptions,attitudes, and procedures that guide researchers in creating questions toinvestigate, in generating evidence, and in drawing conclusions.Like all scientists, psychologists are guided by the basic scientific assumption thatevents are lawful. When this scientific assumption is applied to psychology, it meansthat psychologists assume that behavior and mental processes follow consistent patterns.Psychologists are also guided by the assumption that events are explainable.Thus, psychologists assume that behavior and mental processes have a cause orcauses that can be understood through careful, systematic study.In striving to identify and understand consistent patterns of behavior, psychologistsare open-minded. They are willing to consider new or alternative explanationsof behavior and mental processes. However, their open-minded attitude is temperedby a healthy sense of scientific skepticism. That is, psychologists critically evaluate theevidence for new findings, especially those that seem contrary to establishedknowledge. And, in announcing new ideas and findings, psychologists are cautiousin the claims they make, not wishing to overstate or exaggerate the findings.Collectively, the assumptions and attitudes that psychologists assume reflect criticalthinking. One goal of our text is to help you become a better critical thinker,which we discuss on the next page.scientific methodA set of assumptions, attitudes, andprocedures that guide researchers increating questions to investigate, ingenerating evidence, and in drawingconclusions.empirical evidenceVerifiable evidence that is based uponobjective observation, measurement, and/orexperimentation.hypothesis(high-POTH-eh-sis) A tentative statementabout the relationship between two ormore variables; a testable prediction orquestion.critical thinkingThe active process of minimizing preconceptionsand biases while evaluating evidence,determining the conclusions that can reasonablybe drawn from evidence, and consideringalternative explanations for researchfindings or other phenomena.variableA factor that can vary, or change, in waysthat can be observed, measured, and verified.The Steps in the Scientific MethodSystematically Seeking AnswersLike any science, psychology is based on verifiable or empirical evidence—evidencethat is the result of objective observation, measurement, and experimentation. Aspart of the overall process of producing empirical evidence, psychologists follow thefour basic steps of the scientific method. In a nutshell, these steps are:• Formulate a specific question that can be tested• Design a study to collect relevant data• Analyze the data to arrive at conclusions• Report the resultsFollowing the basic guidelines of the scientific method does not guarantee thatvalid conclusions will always be reached. However, these steps help guard againstbias and minimize the chances for error and faulty conclusions. Let’s look at someof the key concepts associated with each step of the scientific method.Step 1. Formulate a Testable HypothesisOnce a researcher has identified a question or an issue to investigate, he or she mustformulate a hypothesis that can be tested empirically. Formally, a hypothesis is atentative statement that describes the relationship between two or more variables.