Research methods – cognitive Lesson 1

What you should already know

What you need to learn Methodological issues within cognitive psychology

Experiments Why is Bandura’s study an experiment? Look through the study and pick out the elements you think make this study an experiment. Why is Baddeley’s study an experiment?

The Experimental Method

Key steps in an experiment

When testing: One or two tailed hypothesis Directional when testing - one tailed Reasons for using :Previous research suggests the direction Non-directional - two tailed : Change/difference is predicted, but not the direction it will go in. Reasons for using : Allows for a difference/relationships occurring in either direction or Previous research has been inconclusive Direction of results can be predicted

Quiz

Independent variable ?

Dependent variable?

Generating Hypothesis Generate a hypothesis for each of the questions: What are “football hooligans” really like? Do children play differently at different ages? What are the effects of caffeine on attention and concentration? Identify the independent variable (IV) and the dependent variable (DV) from each hypothesis. Identify whether your hypotheses are one tailed or two tailed (remember one-tailed hypothesis predicts the direction of the effect of the IV on the DV, whereas a two-tailed hypothesis does not). Write a null hypothesis for each of the experimental hypotheses.

Operationalisation ? Why do we need to operationalise them?

Operationalisation Here are some research ideas. For each one, identify the IV & DV and suggest ways in which each could be operationalised: Do people remember more about a topic they are interested in that about one in which they have little interest? Are there gender differences in the amount of aggression shown by children in play? Are neurotic people more likely to suffer from phobias?

Laboratory Experiment Nature & Use IV manipulated to observe the effect on DV, under controlled conditions. Strengths Weaknesses

Field Experiments Which study did we look at that is considered to be a field experiment? What are the elements of the study that make it a field experiment? What type of setting is this conducted in? Examples? What are the similarities between a field and lab experiment? Controls, IV, DV controls and aiming for cause and effect conclusions

Field Experiment Nature & Use Advantages Disadvantages Investigate causal relationships in more natural surrounding Advantages Disadvantages

H/W Field experiment Compare field and laboratory experiments in terms of strengths and weaknesses Field Term Laboratory Whereas Similarly