Unit 1: Science of Psychology CHS AP Psychology Unit 1: Science of Psychology Essential Task 1-4: Differentiate types of Research with regard to purpose, strengths and weaknesses -Descriptive Research: Case Studies, Naturalistic Observation and Surveys -Correlational Research -Experimental Research Logo Green is R=8 G=138 B=76 Blue is R= 0 G=110 B=184 Border Grey is R=74 G=69 B=64

Hypothesis Hypothesis is a testable prediction that lets us accept, reject or revise a theory. EX:“If families do not stress gender differences then there will be fewer sex differences in siblings.” 3

Theory 2. Predict new discoveries 3. Be falsifiable Theory is an EXPLANATION based on evidence that PREDICTS behaviors or events. A Theory must: 1. Fit the known facts 2. Predict new discoveries 3. Be falsifiable 4. Be simple. The simpler the better. It answers only part of the question. If it were answer the whole question, it would be a LAW. If we were to observe that depressed people talk about their past, present, and future in a gloomy manner, we may theorize that low-self-esteem contributes to depression. 4

Start with observations Observe and describe the world with descriptive research Form a hypothesis from your observations Test your hypothesis. Re-test your hypothesis Then test it again. If it holds up, you have a theory

1. Observe the physiological reactions to fear Pupils dilate Flushing Breathing increases Heart beat increases Sphincters release All of these shots are taken from the Fear Factory at Niagara falls. Pictures are taken the moment a very scary thing happens much like ride photos on a amusement park ride.

Form Hypothesis from your observations If humans have a physiological reaction to a stimulus, they will experience an emotion. (James-Lange Theory of Emotion)

Descriptive Research Purpose – To describe what is in reality Strengths Certain descriptive research methods can be quick You can generalize (apply to more than just those from which you sampled) your findings with some descriptive research methods Weaknesses Can’t help you predict Can’t give you cause and effect Each descriptive research method has their own weaknesses as well

Descriptive Research DESCRIBES

3 Types of Descriptive Research Naturalistic Observation Case Studies Surveys FYI- at the end of the PowerPoint, there is a chart with the strengths and weaknesses of each of these research methods. You don’t have to write much of anything until the end, if you want. 

Naturalistic Observation What is it? A descriptive research method involving the systematic study of animal or human behavior in natural settings rather than the laboratory Huh? Researcher describes the behavior of the human or animal in their natural settings

Naturalistic Observation Strengths The behavior is more natural than if they were in the lab Weaknesses Can not replicate. Replication involves the process of repeating a study using the same methods, different subjects, and different experimenters. If you can’t replicate you can’t retest the results or apply them to new situations to see just how generalizable it is. Can not generalize (apply them to new situations) your findings. Observer bias - occurs when the observers (or researcher team) know the goals of the study or the hypotheses and allow this knowledge to influence their observations during the study

Naturalistic Observations

Case Studies What is it? Purpose? How? Study of a single individual or just a few individuals in order to describe their situation. Purpose? Take advantage of situation that you can not replicate (make happen again) How? Gather as much evidence as you can: Observation, scores on psychological tests, interviews, medical records etc.

Two most famous case studies in psychology Genie Phineas Gage

Survey What is it? Descriptive research technique in which questionnaires or interviews are administered to a selected group of people. Huh? To describe a large group of people you ask them carefully worded questions.

Survey PASCO High School Strengths You can generate a lot of information for a fairly low cost Overcomes the false consensus effect If you randomly sampled then you can generalize your findings to the population from which you sampled. Chiawana High School

Survey Weaknesses Wording Effect Social Desirability Effect Wording can change the results of a survey. Should cigarette ads be allowed on television? Should cigarette ads be forbidden on television? Social Desirability Effect If directly asked about a sensitive subject, we may alter our answer to what we think is socially acceptable.

Random Sampling Sampling in which each potential population member has an equal chance of being surveyed. Can’t just pull names from a hat Alphabetical list and pick every 10th name (or something to that effect where everyone has the same chance to get chosen)

But to all of those who were mailed surveys, only 4% responded. Non-response Bias Women and Love study done by Shere Hite 1974 98% Dissatisfied by their Marriage 75% Extramarital Affairs But to all of those who were mailed surveys, only 4% responded. 21

When randomly sampled via replication by other psychologists: 93% of women are satisfied in their marriages Only 7% had affairs 22

Comparison Research Method Advantages Limitations Naturalistic Observation More accurate than reports after the fact Behavior is more natural Observer can alter behavior Observer Bias Not generalizable Case Studies Depth Takes advantage of circumstances that can not be replicated Time consuming and expensive Observational Bias Surveys Immense amount of data Quick and inexpensive Generalizable Replicable Poor sampling can skew results Wording Effect Social Desirability Bias Comparison 23