whitley: chap 1:beh science: theory, research, application
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Whitley: Chap 1:Beh Science: Theory, Research, Application. Science – Goals, Key values, Scientific approach Theories Components, Chars, Purpose, Criteria Research Process, Evaluation, Inferences Theory, Research &Application Interdependence, Research, & Application Questions. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Whitley: Chap 1:Beh Science: Theory, Research, Application
• Science –– Goals, Key values, Scientific approach
• Theories– Components, Chars, Purpose, Criteria
• Research– Process, Evaluation, Inferences
• Theory, Research &Application– Interdependence, Research, & Application
• Questions
Science: three aspects
• Research (knowledge)
• Theory (organizes it, -> understanding)
• Application of knowledge
Goals of Science:
• Description
• Understanding
• Prediction
• Control
Goals of Science:
• Description– Define, differentiate, record, show relationships
• Understanding– Hypothesize relationships
• Temporal order, other plausible causes– Induce a theory (see Kerlinger)
• Prediction– Use theory to hypothesize (GRE -> GPA?)
• Control– Skinner: from rats to college students
Science: Key values
• Empiricism: what is it?
• Skepticism: skeptical about fusion, ESP?
• Tentativeness: women more persuasible?
• Publicness: Pons & Fleishman– No replication?
Scientific Approaches
• Logical positivism: What is it?• Or
• Humanism
• Dogmatism– Dogmatic v. Expert authority
• Tenacity
• Intuition
• Common sense
Scientific Process
• Observe • Describe• Understand• Predict• Verify• Revise• Control
• Empirical observation• Organize observations• Theory• Hypothesize• Test (experiment)• Revise theory• Apply theory / findings
Theories
• Suppositions about how vars are related– See Kerlinger definitions
• Components– Assumptions (implicit & explicit)
• Behavior is goal directed (Locke & Latham)
– Paradigms • Blank slate or innate causes?
Theory: More Components
• Hypothetical Constructs– Concepts -> constructs
• (e.g. hostile v. friendly)
– Unidimensional (what is one?)
– Multidimensional (leadership? )
– Muli-faceted (Type A: competitive/hostile)
Theory: components con’t
• Definitions– Theoretical (narrative)– Operational
• Aggression (Buss)– Give examples of narrative and operational
Theory
• Propositions– Directional Relations among constructs– Which of Locke & Latham’s is correct
• See fig 1-2 p. 15
– Causal propositions• IV -> DV• Mediating (comes between IV & DV)
– (IV: Goal accept – work motivation –> DV: Perf)
• Moderating (change or limit rel between IV & DV)– E.g ability
Theory: Characteristics
• Specification– How well defined are vars and relationships?
• Scope– Broad or narrow
• Locke & Lathan (GS for work performance)
Theory: Purposes
• Organize knowledge– Around general principles
• (e.g. reinforcement theory)
• Extend knowledge– Modify theory to improve prediction– Convergence of theories:
• E.g. attribution and learned helplessness
• Guide research and action– Generalize to other settings, populations
Theory: Evaluation Criteria(Shaw & Costanzo, ’82)
• Logical consistency – among assumptions
• Falsifiability – to test theory
• Agreement – with known data
• Utility – what’s it good for?– For understanding– Stimulating research
Research
• Empirical– Descriptive, relational, experimental– Theoretical or trial and error
• Library – archival – Literature
Research Process:
1. Research question
2. Research strategy
3. Data collection
4. Data analysis / interpretation
5. Report results / findings
Evaluating Research(Campbell & Stanley ’79)
1. Construct validity
2. Internal validity
3. Statistical conclusion validity
4. External validity
Inference
• Must infer from results
• Cannot “prove” theory – Always tentative
• Will the sun come up tomorrow? What’s the probability?
• Probabilistic assertions
Theory: Interdependence
• Theory – Induction and deduction
• Research – Theoretical– Applied
• Draws from all fields: Clinical, counseling, I/O etc.
Summary
• Goals of science – understand behavior
• Theory – Assumptions, hypothetical constructs,
propositions
• Research steps (five)
• Interdependence of – Theory, research and application