Chapter 1 9/23/2013. How Do We Know?

Transcription

1 Chapter 1 How Do We Know? Hunger Personality Depression Independence Judgment Bigotry Jealousy Problem Solving Intelligence Memory Ability Aptitude 1

2 P. T. Barnum The Barnum Effect (The Forer Effect) Animism 2

3 A way of acquiring knowledge through logic, intuition and observation. Descartes Father of Modern Philosophy hyperbolic doubt applied mechanistic framework to plant, animal and human bodies, sensation and the passions. (cogito ergo sum) August Comte Founder of Positivism The goal of knowledge is simply to describe the phenomena experienced, not to question whether it exists or not. Sociology Philosophy John Locke Empiricism. What can one can legitimately claim to know and what one cannot. David Hume Empiricism. a precursor of contemporary cognitive science, as well as one of the most thoroughgoing exponents of philosophical naturalism David Hartley Grounded consciousness in neuro-physiology, mind in brain. Synthesis of neurology, moral psychology, and spirituality Physiology & the Physical Sciences Luigi Galvani galvanic (or voltaic) electricity Alessandro Volta electric cell Voltaic Pile 3

4 Experimental Psychology Gustav Fechner the relationship between the mind and the body founder of psychophysics Wilhelm Wundt father of experimental psychology Principles of Physiological Psychology (1874) first Psychology laboratory Hermann Helmholtz Physiological Psychology Perception Mechanics of the eye 4

5 The Four Canons Determinism Empiricism Parsimony Testability Determinism Cause => Effect The Universe (reality, nature) is lawful 5

6 There is an objective reality out there, but we view it through the spectacles of our beliefs, attitudes, and values. ~David G. Myers Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg. ~Albert Einstein ~Abraham Lincoln Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. ~Philip K. Dick As I was sitting in my chair, I knew the bottom wasn't there, Nor legs nor back, but I just sat, Ignoring little things like that. ~Hughes Mearns Determinism In practice perfect predictions are not possible, but if we knew all relevant information about all relevant variables, predictions could be accurate. Theories: An attempt to explain the relationships between different variables and their effects. A good theory allows us to EXPLAIN (predict) 6

7 Empiricism Knowledge through direct experience Logic + Empiricism are critical to the scientific method Galileo Parsimony William of Occam Occam s razor John B. Watson Behaviorism C. Lloyd Morgan Animal Behavior B. F. Skinner Human Behavior 7

8 Testability Karl Popper Logical positivism (logical empiricism ) Importance of empirical falsification ODs (operational definitions) E. C. Tolman Maze learning in rats Clark Hull Learning, motivation and drive theory How Do We Know Intuition (tenacity, common sense) Logic (reason) Authority Observation (experience) 8

9 Intuition Intuitions may be wishes, rather than fact. How do intuitions differ from opinions? How do we deal with conflicting intuitions? Tenacity Everybody knows Folk Psychology Most people 9

10 Reason/Logic Elementary dear Watson! Makes sense to me. Verbal math. If something is so, then it must be logically so. However, if something is logically so, must it be so?... Reason/Logic Making excuses for poor performance is not psychologically healthy? During World War II, men from rural backgrounds were usually in better spirits during their army life than soldiers from city backgrounds? Physically attractive people have higher selfesteem than less attractive people? People with mental problems are better off in a mental hospital? 10

11 Reason/Logic Experienced therapists are more successful than inexperienced therapists? The more counseling an alcoholic receives, the better? Trained observers, such as police officers, are more accurate eyewitnesses than untrained people? College women who are very serious about their careers are less likely to be interested in marriage? If you use imagery to remember something, the more bizarre your image, the better you will remember it. Opposites attract? Reason/Logic Logic alone can lead to errors (as you just saw). Reality may seem illogical (tiny germs killing large animals, many of the things humans do). 11

12 Authority Parents Teachers Role Models Clergy Political Leaders Authority Who was the first President of the US? Did Washington chop down the cherry tree? Did Betsy Ross stitch the first American flag? 12

13 Experience Chocolate causes acne. The sun revolves around the earth. Women can t do men s work. Switching answers on a multiplechoice test Experience Our experiences may not be typical Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Every therapy from phrenology to lizard dung has its success stories. 13

14 Experience Because of our biases, we may See what we expect to see Remember facts consistent with our biases So, What Is Science? A verb, not a noun Science is something you DO. A process or method of inquiry. What are the qualities of science 14

15 So, What Is Science? Is science something done in a laboratory using fancy equipment? Response: No, Science can be done anywhere. Can only Ph.D.'s and M.D.'s understand, let alone do, science? Response: No, even college sophomores can do solid scientific research. 15

16 Emily Rosa Do scientists work in complete isolation? Do they come up with their ideas completely on their own? Response: No, science is a team sport. Standing on each others shoulders Correcting each others' mistakes. 16

17 It isn t Statistics Darwin, Skinner, & Piaget didn t use statistics Statistics can be a valuable tool--these giant s may have made more contributions if they had used statistics. There s a reason statistics is a prerequisite for this course. Quacks have gadgets It isn t technology Technology may be the end result of scientific knowledge Basic vs. Applied Science 17

18 Quacks have gadgets Phrenologists had the electronic phrenometer Astrologers can use computers The polygraph (lie detector)? Development of law or model (theory) Statement of a hypothesis Reference to Larger System (Inferential) Basic Observation (Descriptive) Observation Replicability 18