1. Scientific Method
By Monique Santua

2. Definition
“the principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses”
-Mariam Webster Online

3. The Process…
Hypothesis
Procedures
Data
Conclusions

4. The Scientific method is…
Empirical
Controlled
Unbiased
Has Operational Definitions
Valid and Reliable
Testable
Critical
Skeptical

5. Empirical Controlled Acquires knowledge through
Direct observation
Experimentation
Controlled
Experimenter controls one variable
Independent Variable (IV)
Which controls another variable
Dependant Variable

6. Operational Definitions
How you define the variables that you are testing
EX: An experiment on “long naps”
Long: over one hour
Long nap: over one hour that involves REM sleep
Explains the variable precisely
Explains the variable in terms of the operations used to measure it

7. Validity and Reliability
Validity: “Are you really measuring what you claim to measure?”
Reliability: “Is it consistent?”
Something can be reliable without being valid
EX: if you have data on the average number of phone calls a high school student gets a week, this will not answer the question “Do college students make better grades when they have an iPhone?”

8. Goals of the scientific method
Describe Predict Understand Create Change

9. Description Nomathetic Approach Idiographic Approach
Establishes broad generalizations that apply to a divers population
EX:Experiments on Chemical Properties
Idiographic Approach
More interested in the individual and their unique differences
EX:Case Studies

10. Prediction Correlation Study Theory and Hypothesis
You use the effects of one variable to predict the effects of another variable
Theory and Hypothesis
Theory: “A logically organized set of claims that serves to define events, describe relationships among these events and explain their occurrence”
Hypothesis: A suggested explanation for these occurences

11. Good Theories Provide “Precision of Prediction”
Follow the “Rule of Parsimony”
The simplest explanations are the ones that are accepted
Are tested thoroughly
Are tested to attempt to disprove the theory

12. Understanding
There are three important conditions for making a cause-effect assumption
Covariation
A Time-Order Relationship
No Alternative Causes
Two variables, independent and dependant, change together
The experimenter changes the Independent Variable.
Then the Dependant Variable changes

13. Ensuring That There are no Alternative Causes
Make sure there is good control of the environment which is tested
EX: Men did a better job of remembering 12 random letters but this was because men had received a different clue.

14. Summary
We create experiments that test if one variable has an effect on another variable
The Scientific Method is empirical, controlled, unbiased, valid, reliable,testable, critical, skeptical, and has operational definitions .
The Scientific Method allows us to describe a certain phenomenon, predict the outcome of future reactions, understand why these they happen, and create change.