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I.
The Scientific Method
A.
Goals of Behavioral Science
1)
Describe
2)
Explain
3)
Predict
B. Systematic
process....
1. State the problem/question (theory or practical problem)
2. Select participants and setting
3.
Conduct
experiment/study/observation (gather data)
4. Determine effect of one variable on other/relationship
between variables (Conduct statistical tests
) OR describe systematically
5.
Generalize/explain findings
C. The scientific
method and research articles
II.
Developing and Defining Research Questions and Hypotheses
A. Where
do research ideas come from?
1.
Interest
2.
Previous research
a)
a gap in knowledge
b)
explaining
contradictory results
c)
explaining a finding or "fact"
B. The Role of Theory
1)
What theories are...and are not
2)
Theories and models
C. A good hypothesis:
1)
is testable
2)
is precise/simply stated
3) is
consistent with previous research
4)
is 'a priori' (vs. post-hoc)
5)
should (or can) be stated in a particular form (IF...THEN)
D. Inductive vs. deductive
logic in research:
1) inductive
= "I wonder what would happen if…"
2)
deductive
=
"I expect this would happen if…."
For
Discussion:
Consider how
you might determine the effects of extra sleep on
exam performance using the scientific method? What would each step look
like?
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