UNIT 2 AP PSYCHOLOGY

UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH METHODS A.Hindsight Bias A.Psychology is based on research. People’s tendency to use their intuition isn’t always correct. B.After an event occurs, we tend to see that it was relatively easy to explain. C.Must first understand research methods. B.Overconfidence B.We tend to think we know more than we do!!

MEASUREMENT AND SAMPLING A.Ratio Variables: Measurements based on a continuous scale; cannot be used to measure intangibles; need a zero starting point. Good for physical characteristics (age/weight/height), but not good for IQ i.e. Megan is 3X older than John SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDE- SCIENTIFIC METHOD-

CONTINUED…. B.Reliability: C.Validity: D. Sampling: selecting participants (subjects) for research. 1. Random: anyone has an equal chance, should be good representation of population -> then can generalize to larger population Problem – sometimes starts of as random, but becomes “self selected” i.e. those who respond due to a vested interest vs. those that throw it away. 2. Cross-sectional: Deliberately pick a particular segment of society Problem – determining factors can be hard; sampling errors usually show up when results are statistically plotted.

RESEARCH DESIGNS A.Non-Experimental Designs 1. Case study: 2. Longitudinal study: research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period. ie UL twin study

OTHER DESIGNS 3. OBSERVATION a. Naturalistic Observation: b. Controlled: manipulates something 4. SURVEY a. Interview b. Questionnaire c. Wording

DESIGNS CONTINUED.. 5. Content analysis 6. Historical approach

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS DEFINED: Research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (INDEPENDENT VARIABLES) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (DEPENDENT VARIABLE). Random Assignment: EXAMPLE: In the study of the effects of a new drug on reaction time, the drug is the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE In the study of the effects of a new drug on reaction time, the participants’ reaction is the DEPENDENT VARIABLE. (behavior depending on what takes place during the experiment) 1. Based on Scientific Method *isolate problem or area of interest * form a hypothesis * build a research design * collect analyze data * make generalization

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS

EXPERIMENTS CONTINUED 2.Replicate by others 3.Establish controls 4.Track results using both quantitative and descriptive stats PROBLEMS: Confounding variables- These other factors, which can potentially influence the results of the experiment, are called confounding variables. Random assignment controls for possible confounding variables Bias subject-Eliminated by double blind Single blind v double blind- Placebo Effect- RECAP: Experiments aim to manipulate an independent variable, measure the dependent variable, and control confounding variables. An experiment has at least two different groups: an experimental group and a comparison or control group. Random assignment works to equate the groups before any treatment effects. In this way, an experiment tests the effect of at least one independent variable (what we manipulate) on at least one dependent variable (the outcome we measure).

ETHICS Ethical Considerations in Experimentation Informed Consent Permission for under 16 Protect from harm/discomfort Info confidentiality Debriefing- Explanation of what studying up front, detailed explanation at the end - ARTICLE: Ethics Articles ONE PAGER illustration, 2 facts, opinion for each article 25 points major category! Terms Related to Experiments Falsification-hypothesis Confirmation Null hypotheses – symbol = 0 Inferential-states treatment had no effect in an experiment