1 the foundations of research foundations of research dr. mckirnan the role of science. module 3;...

1The Foundations of

ResearchFoundations of Research

Dr. McKirnan The Role of science.

Module 3; What does science ‘do’?

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Dr. David J. McKirnan, University of Illinois at Chicago, Psychology; [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

2The Foundations of

ResearchWhat does science do?

Psychology 242, Dr. McKirnan Week 2: Role & structure of science.

What does Science do?

1. Describe the world

2. Made predictions (hypotheses)

3. Develop & test theories

4. Apply findings or theories

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The Foundations of

Research

1. Describing the world


1. Qualitative Description Simple observation:

Describe what goes on “in the wild”.

Science:1. Descriptio

n2. Prediction3. Theory4. Application

Valuable for formulating hypotheses.

Record patterns of behavior in specific groups or places.

The Foundations of

ResearchScience and description


World Music: A Retrospect Across The Globe, Venus Umesh. Link.

Mathematics Describing the Real World: Pre-calculus and Trigonometry. Bruce H. Edwards, link here.

Of course description is a key building block in any area of study…

http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=726

http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/Courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=1005

The Foundations of

Research1. Describing the world

2. Quantitative descriptionTracking patterns or systems using numbers



Useful for both developing and testing hypotheses.

Surveys, polls…

Archival data.

Physical observations

From: Climate Site; How do climate models work? Link.

http://climatesight.org/2012/01/20/how-do-climate-models-work/

The Foundations of

Research

Examples of Descriptive Research

Taxonomies: Behavioral categories Personality "types”.


Where is AIDS most common in the U.S.?

Uniform crime rates.

Categories of mental illnesses.

Epidemiology; Behavior in different groups



7The Foundations of

ResearchDescriptive research

Paleontology attempts to accurately describe the predecessors of humans to understand evolution


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E Carefully describing specimens and the conditions where they are found can: Produce insights into

environmental change and evolution

Allow us to test hypotheses & develop theory.

The Foundations of

Research

2. Science and Predictions

Practical applications:

What test score best predicts college success?

Can I predict which employees will steal?

These applications (should) stem from a theory.

Verbal & quantitative aptitude academic success

A specific personality constellation criminality…

That is (or should be…) supported by empirical evidence.

Science:1. Description2. Prediction3. Theory4. Application

The Foundations of

Research

2. Science and Predictions

Practical applications:

Testing hypotheses: An hypothesis is a prediction

Correlational research;

I predict that cultures undergoing rapid economic change will be prone to irrational beliefs.

Experimental research;

I predict that interventions to stabilize economic conditions will decrease people’s irrational beliefs.


10The Foundations of

ResearchPredictions and theory development

Correlating certain anatomical features of “proto-humans” with physical environments can test or develop theories about natural selection pressures.


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Scientists can then predict

(test hypotheses about) the types of fossils that should appear in different places.

The Foundations of

Research

3. Developing & Testing Theory


Identify basic (Ψ, physical…) processes…

that are systematically related…


Theory is the ‘bottom line’ of science

that show how or why something works.

i.e., what “causes” a phenomenon in the natural world.



New data have led us to rethink the basic process of human evolution (i.e., change our theories)

from a simple progression

to a widening “bush” of parallel species.


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The effects paleontologists see in their data lead them to rethink the shape of the evolutionary tree that must cause them.

This leads to a reconsideration of basic processes – e.g., selection pressures - that shape human evolution.


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The Foundations of

Research3. Testing theory: Mediating effects


What might lead to superstitions or irrational beliefs?

A. We describe a simple empirical effect (correlation):

(Social uncertainty predicts more widespread irrational beliefs)


Social & economic uncertainty

Irrational beliefs

The Foundations of



What might lead to irrational beliefs?

B. How does this work? What Theory may explain this?

Need to feel control

(Superstition may help people feel in control of their world under times of uncertainty.)


UncertaintyIrrational

beliefs

The Foundations of



What might lead to irrational beliefs?

B. How does this work? What Theory may explain this?


(…particularly among people with lower critical thinking skills.)



beliefs

Critical thinking

The Foundations of

ResearchTheory and processes




beliefs

Critical thinking

Our theory helps identify basic economic or psychological processes; specifies how they may be related;

and where / how we may change the outcome

The Foundations of

ResearchTheory and processes




beliefs

Critical thinking

Why hypotheses does this theory contain?

How might you test them?

How else might you think of this theory? What other variables may be important?

How might you change some of the arrows?

The Foundations of

Research4. Applications of theory

We use theory to design interventions


…or we can use an intervention study to actually test a theory

Behavioral or biomedical interventions often compare treatments based on differing theories.


I use theory (and evidence) about learning to design this course…

We using practices derived from basic learning theory to “teach” people to no longer have phobias.


ResearchTheories and interventions

One theory of smoking involves social networks: people are influenced by their friends’ smoking


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An intervention study of smoking cessation showed that having people quit with their friends may be more effective that quitting by themselves.


ResearchTheories and interventions

The theory was that social networks influence smoking.

The hypothesis was that a network-based cessation program would work better


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Testing the hypothesis both: Pointed to a practical intervention approach; Supported the theory that social networks are

important to smoking and quitting.

than an individual program.


ResearchWhat does science do?


What does Science do?

1. Describe the world

2. Made predictions (hypotheses)

3. Develop & test theories

4. Apply findings or theories

Sec

tio

n O

verv

iew


ResearchElements of science, review 1

Epidemiology is…A. A way of classifying people or behaviors

B. The study of how frequent a behavior or “condition” is across a population.

C. The identification of basic psychological principles that underlie important behaviors

D. A core feature of a hypothesis.




A Theory is…A. A way of classifying people or behaviors







A Prediction is…A. A way of classifying people or behaviors







A Taxonomy is…A. A way of classifying people or behaviors





1 the foundations of research foundations of research dr. mckirnan the role of science. module 3;...

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