Exam 1 overview

1. Exam 1 overview • Overview: exam 1 • Most material will be taken from the lectures • Study the lecture notes from lectures 1  beginning of 5 • Best study method: give yourself the lectures! • Understand the key terms I have been using in lecture • Several lectures have topic or concept lists in a summary; know those. • Understand the logic of measurement studies versus experiments • You will apply your paper topic to questionsthat follow the research flow: • Do the Week 5 assignment nowto prepare for that. Weeks 1 & 2; Introduction to science.

2. Core components of science What is science? • You have seen this before. • What does this mean? • Values: • Critical thought + Empiricism • Understand the Natural World • Theory: How or Why? • Evidence: How do you know? Content • Empirical findings: Facts • Ways of classifying nature • Well supported theories • Methods • Objective approaches • Basic experimental design • Specific research procedures

3. Intuition, Magical Thought & science • You get all this, right? • The brain has evolved to make snap judgments about causation: • We leap to conclusions before logic can be applied. • Our emotional needs can distort our perceptions before the logical brain kicks in… • Our need to feel in control can lead to imagine cause and effect when there really is none (…The Secret, “magic” foods or diets, rituals). • We often want to believe; • Our brains may be “hard wired” for intuitive, “Magical Thought” • We seek control and predictability • We are vulnerable to explanations that make us feel good. • We experience emotions faster than we can think • Taking a rational, empirical approach often requires us to suppress our intuitions or emotions Weeks 1 & 2; Introduction to science.

4. Bottom line: Ways of knowing and science • Authority / authoritarianism • Stable principles or beliefs • Limits empirical evidence? • Intuition / subjective “hunch” • Source of novel hypotheses • Emotion-based “wishful thinking”  irrationality. • Empiricism • Grounds knowledge in “real” world • Simple empiricism subject to cognitive / emotional biases. • Rationalism / theory • Central purpose of science: • explanation of “why” or “how” nature works. • Social pressure can limit hypothesis testing • Have a general sense of these. • Note role of theory. Weeks 1 & 2; Introduction to science.

5. How do we “Know” something? Science: Integration of.. Rationalism • Hypothetical construct • Theory • Hypothesis Empiricism • Objective observation • Control • Operational definitions • Replication • Internal – external validity Be able to define and use these terms Weeks 1 & 2; Introduction to science.

6. Core course topics What does science do? • Describe the world • Taxonomies • Epidemiology • Qualitative research • Predict events • Simple predictions • Correlational studies • Experiments • Test theories • Identify basic processes • Show how processes are related • Test applications of theories • E.g., behavioral interventions Be able to define and use these terms

7. key terms Be able to define and use these terms Key terms • Theory • Hypothetical construct • Hypothesis • Variable, “level” of a variable • Operational definition • Experimental control • Measurement v. experimental studies • Independent v. dependent variables • Internal v. external validity

8. Research Flow Phenomenon - Larger question the research addresses This should be obvious by now What needs explaining? Why is it important? Theory - Explanatory processes & how they are related How / why do I think it works? • Hypothesis • Concrete variables • Specific prediction What is my specific prediction? • Methods / Data • Operational definitions • Study procedures What concrete evidence or data will I collect? Results - Hypothesis-wise analysis of outcomes What was the outcome? Hypothesis supported? What do the results mean for the theory? What is unanswered? • Discussion & Conclusion • Relate results back to theory • Study limitations & Future studies

9. Basic Elements of a Research Project Phenomenon Big picture /question Theory Hypothetical Constructs Causal explanation • Understand the stages of the research flow • Understand the symmetry of the model Hypothesis Operational definition Specific prediction Methods Measurement v. experimental • Data / Results • Descriptive data • Test hypothesis Discussion Implications for theory Conclusions Future research?

10. Basics of major forms of research. External validity Internal validity • Understand what internal / external validity mean • Understand the trade-off between the two. Weeks 1 & 2; Introduction to science.

11. Values, theory and data in the scientific process. Social values help define a scientific “problem” or question. Norms, values (& data) determine what is credible / fundable. Got it?... Phenomenon Theory Theory is influenced by norms + empirical background of field. Hypothesis Science hinges on clear, objectively stated hypotheses. Clear hypotheses lessen bias in interpreting results. Methods & data Methods & analyses are most objective, but fields vary in methodological rigor. Results Discussion & Conclusions • The “meaning” of a finding is influenced by cultural & social values or concerns. …for science and, particularly, for society. Week 3; Experimental designs

12. Measurement v. experimental methods Understand this distinction; I WILL ask about it. • Experiments: • Manipulate the Independent Variable. • Randomly Assign participants to groups • Controlall aspects of the procedures • Keep participants and researcher Blind • Measurement studies • Assess / measure the Predictor. • Typically do not: • Randomly assign • Exert complete control • Blind Understand the effects these differences have on internal & external validity. Week 3; Experimental designs

13. Experimental v. Measurement designs Experimental designs Another slide on this… • Manipulating the Independent Variable: • Enhances internal validity • May lessen external validity • Participants randomly assigned to experimental v. control groups Measurement (or correlational)designs • Measurement “in the field” • May enhance external validity • Typically lessens internal validity • Sampling very important Week 3; Experimental designs

14. Key terms & concepts, 2 • Creating an Independent variable • Direct: treatment dose or manipulation • Indirect: use context or instructions to induce IV (e.g., instructions and stress) (requires manipulation check) • Using a measured variable (self-reports or “status” variable) to create groups I may ask for examples of these. Week 3; Experimental designs

15. Ethics • The Common Rule • Minimize risks • Risks must be reasonable • Recruit participants equitably • Informed consent • Document consent • Monitor for safety • Protect vulnerable participants & maintain confidentiality Be able to generally define or describe these. Research Ethics

16. Ethics; The Belmont Report 1. Respect For Persons • Right to exercise autonomy & make informed choices. 2. Beneficence • Minimize of risk + maximize social / individual benefit 3. Justice • Include participants of all races & genders • Members of target population on design & research team • Research contribute to study population studied • Do not unduly involve groups unlikely to benefit from the research • Communicate research results & develop programs/ interventions Be able to describe these. Research Ethics

17. Basics of Design: Internal Validity External Validity: Can we validly generalize from this experiment to the larger world? Internal Validity: Can we validly determine what is causing the results of the experiment? General Research Hypothesis:the experimental outcome (value of the Dependent Variable)is caused only by the experiment itself(Independent Variable). Confound: a “3rdvariable” (unmeasured variable other than the Independent Variable)might have actually led to the results. Be able to give an example or define these terms. Experimental Design & sampling