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Understanding the Research Process

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1. How is research defined in the social and behavioral sciences? Behaviorists (or behavioral) perspective also called behaviorism, focuses on the way objects or events in the environment (stimuli) come to control behavior through learning. Thus, the behaviorist perspective focuses on the relation between external (environmental) events and observable behaviors (Kowalski & Westen) 2011 while social science researchers require an acknowledgement of how individuals relate with society; studies the human society and individual relationships in the interior and to society.
2. What makes scientific research different from the examples provided above? In your response, be sure to address the characteristics of ‘good’ psychological research. Scientific research involves the use of the scientific method, wherein data is collected by empirical methods, and then statistically tested to prove or disprove the hypotheses.

“The traditional concept of scientific method involves five steps, generally in the following order. 1. Theory construction 2. Derivation of theoretical hypotheses 3. Operationalization of concepts 4. Collection of empirical data 5. Empirical testing of hypotheses

Part II: Understanding the research process
Researchers in Psychology follow a systematic process of investigation. Carefully read Chapter 2 of your textbook, paying special attention to the section on Experimental Research. Then go to Chapter 7 in your textbook and read the following section: Research In-Depth: Counterfactuals and “If Only…” Thinking. Answer the questions below, using Medvec & colleagues’ first study as an example:
1. 1. What hypothesis did Medvec & colleagues set out to test in their first study of the ‘near miss’ phenomenon? Describe the theory associated with this hypothesis. • To test the thoughts and judgments of human mind and see

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