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