CHAPTER 1CHAPTER 1

SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF BEHAVIOR

LEARNING OBJECTIVESLEARNING OBJECTIVES

Explain the reasons for understanding research methods

Describe the scientific approach to learning about behavior, and contrast it with pseudoscientific research

LEARNING OBJECTIVESLEARNING OBJECTIVES

Define and give examples of the four goals of scientific research: description, prediction, determination of cause, and explanation of behavior

Define and describe basic and applied research

USES OF RESEARCH METHODSUSES OF RESEARCH METHODS

Increasingly important in public policy and judicial decisions

Important when developing and assessing the effectiveness of goal oriented programs

USES OF RESEARCH METHODSUSES OF RESEARCH METHODS

Informed citizens increasingly need knowledge of research methods

Many occupations require the use of research findings

THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACHTHE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH

Limitations of IntuitionIntuition relies unquestioningly on personal

judgment Involves cognitive and motivational biases

Erroneous conclusions about cause and effectExample: Illusory correlation

THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACHTHE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH

• Examples of Authority• News media• Books• Government officials• Religious figures

THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACHTHE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH

• Limitations of Authority• Many believe statements based on authority;

scientific approach rejects this notion and requires much more evidence before conclusions can be drawn

THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACHTHE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH

Skepticism, Science, and the Empirical ApproachEmpiricismFalsifiabilityPeer review

Integrating Intuition, Skepticism, and Authority

Elements of Goodstein’s Evolved Elements of Goodstein’s Evolved Theory of ScienceTheory of Science

Observations accurately reported to others

+Search for discovery and verification of ideas

+

Open exchange and competition among ideas

+

Peer review of research

THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACHTHE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH

• Characteristics of pseudoscience• Hypotheses generated are not typically testable• If scientific tests are reported, methodology is not

scientific and validity of data is questionable• Supportive evidence is anecdotal and does not cite

scientific references• Claims ignore conflicting evidence• Claims tend to be vague, and appeal to pre-conceived

ideas• Claims are never revised

GOALS OF SCIENCEGOALS OF SCIENCE

Description of Behavior Prediction of Behavior Determining the Causes of Behavior

Temporal precedenceCovariation of the cause and effectAlternative explanations

Explanation of Behavior

BASIC AND APPLIED BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCHRESEARCH

Basic ResearchFundamental questions about the nature

of behavior

- Theoretical issues often concern basic phenomena such as cognition, emotion, motivation, learning, psychobiology, personality development, and social behavior.

BASIC AND APPLIED BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCHRESEARCH

Applied ResearchConducted to address issues in which

there are practical problems and potential solutions.

Program evaluation

BASIC AND APPLIED BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCHRESEARCH

• Comparing Basic and Applied Research• Neither is considered superior to the other

• Applied research is often guided by theories and findings of basic research

• Findings in applied settings often require modification of existing theories and spur more basic research

• Basic research is crucial to public policy