Psychology activity questions & answers on Methodology

The first 200 words of this essay...

ARSHAD AKBER IB1 7th/09/2007

PSYCHOLOGY ACTIVITY QUESTION

1) For each of the following characteristics, indicate how the scientific approaches differs from non-scientific ( everyday ) approaches to knowledge , general approach, observation, reporting, concepts, instruments, measurement, hypothesis and attitudes.

Characteristics of scientific and non-scientific ( everyday) approaches to knowledge

Non-scientific approaches

Scientific approaches

* General approach

Intuitive

Empirical

* Observation

Casual, uncontrolled

Systematic, controlled

* Reporting

Biased, subjective

Unbiased, objective

* Concepts

Ambiguous, with surplus meanings

Clear definitions, operational specificity

* Instruments

Inaccurate, imprecise

Accurate and precise

* Measurements

Not valid or reliable

Valid and reliable

* Hypothesis

Un-testable

Testable

* Attitude

Uncritical, accepting

Critical, skeptical

2) What is the major advantage of using operational definitions in psychology? What disadvantages are there in using operational definitions?

Operational definition is a term whose meaning is defined by the processes or observable events used to measure it. In other words it is showing of variables or terms or objects in terms of the specific process or set of validation