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Lecture Slides on Theories and Hypotheses | PSY 250, Study notes of Psychology

Material Type: Notes; Professor: Gore; Class: Information Literacy in PSY; Subject: PSY Psychology; University: Eastern Kentucky University; Term: Unknown 1989;

Typology: Study notes

Pre 2010

Uploaded on 08/16/2009

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Theories and Hypotheses
Theories vs. Hypotheses
____________________
Broad explanation and prediction
concerning a phenomenon of interest
General statement
____________________
A prediction, stemming from a theory,
stated in a way that allows it to be tested
Specific statement
Good theories…
Are ____________________
Are broad and can be generalized
Withstand the test of time
Are _________________to real life
Solve an important ______________
Provide a better
____________________ than
previous theories
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Theories and Hypotheses

Theories vs. Hypotheses

 ____________________

  • Broad explanation and prediction concerning a phenomenon of interest
  • General statement  ____________________
  • A prediction, stemming from a theory, stated in a way that allows it to be tested
  • Specific statement

Good theories…

 Are ____________________  Are broad and can be generalized  Withstand the test of time  Are _________________to real life  Solve an important ______________  Provide a better ____________________ than previous theories

Behavioral Variability

____________________ as

the basis of research

 Purpose of research is to explain:

  • situational variability
  • individual differences
  • temporal variability  All analyses in some way take variability into account

Measuring

____________________

 Behavior must be quantified in some way  Statistical definition: variation of scores around the mean (aka. “variance”)  Measures of behavior must be able to “pick up” variation

Steps to Generating

____________________

 Ask yourself, “Why am I interested in psychology?”  Find out what has already been done in this area  Make a prediction that no one has tested yet

  • Statement, not a question
  • Compare groups or variables

Null vs. Alternative

Hypotheses

 ____________________ = there will be no effect, no relation, no difference between groups

  • Avoid “proving the null”  ____________________ = there will be a significant effect, relation, or difference between groups

Post hoc explanations vs.

HARKing

 ____________________ = addressing an effect in the opposite direction

  • e.g., self-esteem and race  ____________________ = Hypothesizing After the Results are Known; “I knew it all along”
  • Avoid ____________________

Remember

 Hypotheses are ________________ involving a clear prediction  Hypotheses must be _____________  Hypotheses determine:

  • The design of your project
  • The analyses you will use
  • The conclusions you can make

Can’t think of a hypothesis?

Ask these questions,

answer with a hypothesis

 WHY and HOW does the behavior occur?  In which situations and for which type of person is the effect strongest?  What are some alternative explanations for a behavior?  Who doesn’t “fit the mold”? Why not?