Whitley: Chap 1:Beh Science: Theory, Research, Application Goals, Key values, Scientific approach Theories Components, Chars, Purpose, Criteria Research Process, Evaluation, Inferences Theory, Research &Application Interdependence, Research, & Application Questions

Science: three aspects Research (knowledge) Theory (organizes it, -> understanding) Application of knowledge

Goals of Science: Description Understanding Prediction Control

Goals of Science: Description Understanding Prediction Control Define, differentiate, record, show relationships Understanding Hypothesize relationships Temporal order, other plausible causes Induce a theory (see Kerlinger) Prediction Use theory to hypothesize (GRE -> GPA?) Control Skinner: from rats to college students

Science: Key values Empiricism: what is it? Skepticism: skeptical about fusion, ESP? Tentativeness: women more persuasible? Publicness: Pons & Fleishman No replication?

Scientific Approaches Logical positivism: What is it? Or Humanism Dogmatism Dogmatic v. Expert authority Tenacity Intuition Common sense

Scientific Process Observe Describe Understand Predict Verify Revise Control Empirical observation Organize observations Theory Hypothesize Test (experiment) Revise theory Apply theory / findings

Theories Suppositions about how vars are related Components See Kerlinger definitions Components Assumptions (implicit & explicit) Behavior is goal directed (Locke & Latham) Paradigms Blank slate or innate causes?

Theory: More Components Hypothetical Constructs Concepts -> constructs (e.g. hostile v. friendly) Unidimensional (what is one?) Multidimensional (leadership? ) Muli-faceted (Type A: competitive/hostile)

Theory: components con’t Definitions Theoretical (narrative) Operational Aggression (Buss) Give examples of narrative and operational

Theory Propositions Directional Relations among constructs Which of Locke & Latham’s is correct See fig 1-2 p. 15 Causal propositions IV -> DV Mediating (comes between IV & DV) (IV: Goal accept – work motivation –> DV: Perf) Moderating (change or limit rel between IV & DV) E.g ability

Theory: Characteristics Specification How well defined are vars and relationships? Scope Broad or narrow Locke & Lathan (GS for work performance)

Theory: Purposes Organize knowledge Extend knowledge Around general principles (e.g. reinforcement theory) Extend knowledge Modify theory to improve prediction Convergence of theories: E.g. attribution and learned helplessness Guide research and action Generalize to other settings, populations

Theory: Evaluation Criteria (Shaw & Costanzo, ’82) Logical consistency – among assumptions Falsifiability – to test theory Agreement – with known data Utility – what’s it good for? For understanding Stimulating research

Research Empirical Library Descriptive, relational, experimental Theoretical or trial and error Library archival Literature

Research Process: Research question Research strategy Data collection Data analysis / interpretation Report results / findings

Evaluating Research (Campbell & Stanley ’79) Construct validity Internal validity Statistical conclusion validity External validity

Inference Must infer from results Cannot “prove” theory Always tentative Will the sun come up tomorrow? What’s the probability? Probabilistic assertions

Theory: Interdependence Induction and deduction Research Theoretical Applied Draws from all fields: Clinical, counseling, I/O etc.

Summary Goals of science Theory Research steps (five) understand behavior Theory Assumptions, hypothetical constructs, propositions Research steps (five) Interdependence of Theory, research and application