Psychological Research

Scientific Methodology Remember OTHER Observations Theory Hypothesis Experiment (Descriptive, Correlational) Replication

Observation Every Spring something really unusual happens. . . . . . . .

Theory I think it has something to do with Easter candy.

Hypothesis If I eat jelly beans. . . . . .

Operational Definitions of Hypothesis You have to word your hypothesis so that it can be replicated. Ex. If a subject eats 17 jelly beans four times a day, then he/she will . . . . . . .

Experiment, Descriptive, or Correlational Studies You perform the study and ANALYZE the results.

You have to write your conclusions!! They must be written so that they can be replicated (REPEATED).

Three types of research: Descriptive, Correrlational, Experiment

Descriptive Studies-can only describe 1) Naturalistic Observations 2) Directed Observations 3) Surveys 4) Case Studies 5) Tests

Naturalistic Observation

Occurs in a person or animals natural setting

Directed Observation

Occurs in an artificial environment like a lab

Surveys

Surveys ask individuals to report their beliefs, feelings, behavior

Important terms to know in Surveys: Population- the group the survey represents Sample- The subjects you question Random Population- Everyone in the population should have an equal chance of participation (ex. Names should be picked by a computer or drawn from a bag) Representative Population- The sample should match the population on key characters The Size- the larger the sample the more accurate the results

Be careful about Volunteer Bias

Be careful about reading Surveys Who

Shere Hite Report on Women’s Sexuality

Case Studies

An in-depth look at one person

Tests

Psychology has many tests-personality, intelligence etc. etc

Tests can’t show causation-They can only describe