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Chapter 2

Laws: Behavioral science

assumes events are governed by laws and order.

-ex. gravity and earth's orbit

-3 goals of Science

-measurement and description

~conceptualization vs. operationalization

-Understanding and predicting

~hypothesis and variables

-application and control

~how can we use our findings?

-We try to develop the operations: systems of related ideas used to explain certain observations.

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Chapter 2

-steps in a scientific Investigation

1. Form a testable (flexible) hypothesis

2. Select methods and design the study

3. collect data

4.Analyze data and draw conclusions

5. Report the findings

-Advantages of Scientific Approach

~Clarity Precision- Hypothesis must be exact and clear

~Balance of Error- Ideas are accepted based on objective data, and findings can always be questioned and modified as new data emerges

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Chapter 2: Experimental Research

-Experiment: a research method in which the investigator manipulates an INDEPENDENT variable under controlled conditions and observes whether there is a change in a DEPENDENT variable.

-Experimental and Control groups are differentiated by the level of the IV.

~Ideally want these groups identical in all other aspects

-Extraneous variables- things other than the IV that might affect the DV. BAD FOR EXPERIMENT, want to control if possible.

-Confounding variables- when two variables are related in a way that makes it hard to figure out their individual effects.

-Random assignment- Everyone is equally likely to be in any group/condition. THE CURE

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Causes: Experimental Research

-Within-subject designs: Each participant serves as their own control and is exposed to both conditions in the study.

-Multi-variate designs: Sometimes we want to examine multiple independent variables or measure several dependent variables in the same study

~This allwos us to look for interactions: when the effect of one variable depends on the effect of another

-Multiple levels of one IV: does the effect of the IV on the DV get

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