Research in Psychology Chapter 2

Research 1. Basics of Science 2. Basics of an Experiment 3. Types of Research 4. Ethics

Scientific Methods Scientific methods – follow rules, results should be clear, can be duplicated Experimental method – follows the rule of the experiment – most scientific method – objective (free from opinion) Descriptive method – observations, case-study reports – not scientific, but may be useful –subjective (might have opinion)

Scientific Approach Basis: What happens in nature follows a pattern Psychologists believe they are scientists Goals: 1. Observe, measure 2. understand & predict 3. apply to new situations & control

Scientific Approach 1. Observe, measure - be as complete as you need - be consistent - be clear & precise 2. Understand & predict - hypothesis – an educated guess @ relationship

Scientific Approach 2. Understand & predict - variable – something you are monitoring/manipulating (changing)/controlling Examples: gender, temperature in this room, extra help, food

Scientific Approach 3. Application & control Problem solving > how to reduce depression; make teachers more effective; get people to work faster Control as much as possible – traffic accidents caused by white, yellow & lime-green traffic lights, so …

Scientific Approach Theory – an explanation for a phenomena (something observed); really a system of ideas Scientists report > now might explain why Must be testable Usually require multiple investigations Focus on hypothesis rather than entire theory Normal for theories to be revised/changed

How Science Begins 1. curiosity – what do you want to study ? 2. propose at least one hypothesis – educated guess 3. operationalize your definitions – how will you measure your variables & any changes – this has to be precise and understandable by others 4. Design your project – what method

How Science Begins 4. What method – no perfect design – surveys/questionnaires popular - choose participants/subjects > people or animals that you use for the experiment – need representative sample 5. collect data – many different ways – find out some > surveys that subjects fill out are easy 6. analyze data - statistics

How Science Begins 7. decide what results mean 8. write up report > peer-reviewed journal Why this method works ? A. precision B. mistakes should be discovered

Scientific Method Experiment – test - carefully change a condition and determine if that changes something Variables Independent – one that can be changed/manipulated Dependent – tied to independent variable

Scientific Method Experiment Subjects divided into at least two groups 1. experimental group – gets the change 2. control group – left alone, does not get the change Pros - may find cause-and-effect

Scientific Method Cons - hard to apply to real world – life not controlled - cannot manipulate some variables Other methods: correlations, observations Correlation – find the relationship with statistics – no manipulation – do x & y have a relationship ? How strong is it ?

Scientific Method Others Naturalistic observation & description – just watch & no involvement Case study & description – often with one subject, extreme case > Freud’s patients

Ethics Ethics – what is right I want to study fear. Can I scare children ? Treatment of animals Treatment of people - do they know they are in the experiment ? - deception - handling data