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The Need For Research. Draw the back of a dollar bill. No cheating!. How’d you do?. Which three letters are usually on the #5 button on a phone? Again, don’t check your own phones!. How’d you do?. Some pencils are cylindrical, and others have multiple sides. How many sides do they have?.
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Which three letters are usually on the #5 button on a phone?Again, don’t check your own phones!
Some pencils are cylindrical, and others have multiple sides. How many sides do they have?
How’d you do? CORRECT ANSWER: SIX
Casual Observation • Each of these were examples of casual observations • Casual observation= perceiving a stimulus without giving it meaning • Since we don’t do well with casual observations we need structure and guidelines or…… systematic research
Conducting Research • Psychologists will make assumptions about behaviors they observe • In order to test those assumptions, they use a scientific procedure
Forming a Question • Observe a behavior and wonder why it happens the way it does • Form a question about your curiosities Example: • Why do Beta fish fight when in the same tank?
Forming a Hypothesis • Brainstorm a logical answer to your question • Create your own explanation for why the behavior occurs • Stated in “If-Then” format Example: • If Beta fish are aggressive, then they will attack each other.
Testing the Hypothesis • Design an experiment to find an answer to your question and to prove or disprove your hypothesis • Decide what is needed to test the hypothesis • Gather information • Examine information Example: • Place mirror by fish to see if it tries to attack • Observe its behavior
Analyze the Results • Ask what your findings mean • Did you collect enough information? Should you perform the test again? Example: • Test multiple fish
Draw Conclusions • Was your hypothesis correct? • If no, you might need to change your theories/beliefs • If yes, replicate Example: • If fish didn’t fight reflection, it does not necessarily disprove. Maybe it knew it was a reflection (can’t sense another fish)
REPLICATE! • Even when studies are performed carefully with proper procedures, results could still b a random occurrence • In order for studies to be published, they must be repeated many times