1. SCIENTIFIC THEORY
A scientific theory explains behavior by organizing observations and predicting behaviors or events.
The following is the process people develop theories:

2. So let’s observe student behavior in front of and behind a teacher…..
While watching:
record your general observation

3. candid camera video

4. Share your observation with a partner, then together create an overarching theory:
“ I theorize that…..

5. How can we test your theory to see if it is true?
The scientific method prescribes writing a hypothesis (an If, then statement).
If ______________________, then__________________________.

6. LET’S TRY TO MAKE A THEORY NOW
OBSERVE:
I observe that students are happy when they are confronted with an attractive teacher.
THEORIZE:
I theorize attractive teachers make students smile.

7. The SCIENTIFIC METHOD Putting our theories to the test. THEORy:
Now we have to take our theory and make it into something we can test, a hypothesis.
THEORy:
I theorize attractive teachers make students smile
HYPOTHESIS: (IF ______ THEN _______)
I hypothesize that IF a teacher is attractive THEN students will smile.

8. The SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The key to having a hypothesis is having what scientists call operational definitions- clearly identifies how variables will be measured and allows for replication.
I observe that students are happy when they are confronted with an attractive teacher.
I hypothesize that IF a teacher has a symmetrical face THEN students will smile.

9. YOUR TURN
OBSERVE:
THEORIZE:
Hypothesize (IF, THEN):

10. Our methods for researching fall into 3 categories:
TESTING OUR HYPOTHESIS
Our methods for researching fall into 3 categories:  
1. DESCRIPTIVE simply describes the event
2. CORRELATIONAL describes the relationship between variables and allows one to predict behavior
3. EXPERIMENTAL attempt to actually show a cause/effect

11. 3 Types of Descriptive Research:
Naturalistic Observation
Case Study
Survey
Data from descriptive research:
Qualitative in nature
Called descriptive statistics