Experimental Method and Statistical Reasoning in Psychology：在心理学的实验方法和统计推理.ppt

Experimental Method and Statistical Reasoning in Psychology The Scientific Method The four basic goals of psychology are to (1) describe, (2) explain, (3) predict, and (4) control or influence behavior and mental processes. To achieve these goals, psychologists rely on the scientific method. The scientific method refers to a set of assumptions, attitudes, and procedures that guide researchers in creating questions to investigate, in generating evidence, and in drawing conclusions. The Scientific Method Like all scientists, psychologists are guided by the basic scientific assumption that events are lawful. When this scientific assumption is applied to psychology, it means that psychologists assume that behavior and mental processes follow consistent patterns. Psychologists are also guided by the assumption that events are explainable. Thus, psychologists assume that behavior and mental processes have a cause or causes that can be understood through careful, systematic study. The Scientific Method In striving to discover and understand consistent patterns of behavior, psychologists are open-minded. They are willing to consider new or alternative explanations of behavior and mental processes. However, their open-minded attitude is tempered by a healthy sense of scientific skepticism. That is, psychologists critically evaluate the evidence for new findings, especially those that seem contrary to established knowledge. And, in promoting new ideas and findings, psychologists are cautious in the claims they make. Empirical evidence Like any science, psychology is based on empirical evidence—evidence that is the result of objective observation, measurement, and experimentation. As part of the overall process of producing empirical evidence, psychologists follow the four basic steps of the scientific method. The Steps in the Scientific Method Formulate a specific question that can be tested. Design a study to collect relevant data. Analyze the data to arrive