Unveiling Psychological Research: The Scientific Method in Action

1. Research In Psychology The Scientific Method

2. Scientific method • Theory • Hypothesis • Research • Support the theoryOR Refute/Fail

3. Theories • Explanation based on observations • How a phenomenon (observable thing) works • Interconnected ideas/concepts • Used to explain prior observations or make predictions about future events

4. Hypothesis • Prediction based on a theory • Specific, testable • Outcome should support the theory

5. research • Collection of data • Objective information/measurements

6. The Scientific Method in action • Theory • Alcohol impairs driving ability • Hypothesis • People who consume alcohol tend to display poorer coordination and motor skills than those who don’t • Research • Observed two groups – one drinks alcohol, the other doesn’t • Analyze data • Use statistical techniques

7. variable • Something that can vary that the researcher can measure or manipulate • For the previous study some variables would be: • Amount of alcohol consumed • Level of intoxication • Coordination • Motor control • Balance

8. Operational Definitions • Identifying variables so they can be measured • Coordination • How easily people can touch their fingers to their nose with their eyes closed? • The number of inches by which they miss by

9. Types of studies Descriptive Longitudinal Cross-Sectional

10. 1. descriptive • Observational • Observing and noting behavior • Analyzing behavior objectively • Two types of observation: • Naturalistic • Observer is separate from the situation • Participant • Becomes one of the participants

11. 2. Longitudinal • Examine change over time • Study or follow the same participants multiple times over a period of time • Advantages: • Provide info. about the effects of age on the same people • Disadvantages: • Expensive • Takes a long time • May lose participants over time

12. 3. Cross-sectional • Compares participants in different groups at the same time • Advantages: • Quick and less expensive • Disadvantages: • Unidentified variables may be involved

13. Bias Observer (experimenter) Bias Participant Bias

14. Bias • Tendency or inclination • Prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question or idea

15. Observer bias • Errors in observation that occur because of an observer’s expectations • A study was conducted on male and female facial expressions when viewing a slide show • The study was trying to prove that men and women show the same emotional expression • If the observer believes women are more emotional than men, he/she may always observe emotional expressions on women and not on the men

16. Participant bias • When a person in a study knows what the observer is looking for they may change their behavior to fit the observer’s expectancy • Sometimes done on purpose • Sometimes unintentional

17. Correlational studies • How variables are naturally related • Does not show causation • Amount of alcohol available in a community and the likeliness of car accidents • Advantages: • Rely on naturally occurring relationships • Take place in real world settings • Disadvantage • Cannot show causal relationships • Unidentified variables may be involved

18. experiments A study that tests causal hypotheses by measuring and manipulating variables

19. groups • Control • Comparison group • Participants who do not receive any intervention • Experimental • Treatment group • Receive intervention

20. examples • Study on violent videos games and whether they encourage violent behavior • Control Group: • Plays a non-violent game • Experimental Group: • Plays a violent game • Study on how people are affected by alcohol use • Control Group: • Drinks water • Experimental Group: • Drinks alcohol

21. Variables Independent Dependent

22. Independent (IV) • Variable that is manipulated • The amount of intoxication • Examines the impact on the dependent variable

23. Dependent (Dv) • Variable that is affected by the manipulation of the IV • Driving performance after intoxication

24. Random sampling • Results should generalize or apply to people beyond those in the study • Sampling • Process by which you select people from the population • Random Sampling • Represents the population • Equal chance of being chosen

25. Random assignment • Placing research participants into the conditions of an experiment in a way that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any level of the IV

26. Data Collection Methods

27. Observation • View behavior • Write descriptions • Tallies • Ratings on a scale

28. Case Study • Intense examination of a very specific group or type of people • Brain injuries • Psychological disorders

29. Self-Report • Questionnaires • Surveys • Disadvantages • Bias • Never return surveys • Advantages • Easily administered • Mailed out • Gather data from a large amount of people

30. The Hawthorne effect • Hypothesis: Being observed can lead participants to change their behavior • Independent Variables – pay incentives, break schedules • Dependent Variable – speak of production • RESULTS – Workers’ productivity increased when they were being observed, regardless of the change in the IV • CONCLUSION: Being observed can lead participants to change their behavior because people act in particular ways to make positive impressions

31. Ethical concerns Ensure participants well being

32. Institutional Review boards • Strict guidelines • Review all research proposals • Make sure it meets scientific standards • Must take into consideration ethical and safety concerns • Well being of the participants

33. Concerns • Privacy • Names are never published • Access to data • Only the researcher and his/her team • Informed consent • Overview in writing • Give relevant information • Have the right to know what they will experience • Acknowledge their participation • Signature on the form