Chapter 2 Research Methods It is actually way more exciting than it sounds!!!!

Conducting Research 6 step process Form a research question Form a hypothesis Test the hypothesis Analyze results Draw conclusions Replicate study

Experimental Method Formulate Hypothesis Design Research/Study Method (type of method: naturalistic observation, case studies, surveys, experiments, etc.) Collect the Data Analyze the Data Report the Findings (journal, critique, replicate) Draw Conclusion or Theory on Explanation of Findings

Research terms to know Hypothesis Replication testable prediction Repeating the study to ensure outcome is the same

Types of research methods Survey method Case Study method Naturalistic method Correlational method Longitudinal method Cross-sectional method Experimental method (laboratory or field)

The Survey Method A technique for getting self-reported attitudes, opinions or behaviors of people usually done by questioning Conduct via interview, mail, phone, or internet They are cheap, anonymous, you get a diverse population, and easy to get a random sampling (sample that represents your population you want to study).

Sampling Identify the population you want to study. The sample must be representative of the population you want to study. GET A RANDOM SAMPLE.

Survey Random Sampling If each member of a population has an equal chance of inclusion into a sample, it is called a random sample (unbiased). If the survey sample is biased, its results are not valid.

Survey Method - problems Low Response Rate People Lie or just misinterpret themselves. Wording Effects Wording can change the results of a survey

Case Studies A detailed picture of one or a few subjects. Tells us a great story…but it just describes behavior Does not explain why anything is happening . The ideal case study is John and Kate. Really interesting, but what does it tell us about families in general?

Case Study Clinical Study A clinical study is a form of case study in which the therapist investigates the problems associated with a client. http://behavioralhealth.typepad.com

Naturalistic Observation Watch subjects in their natural environment. Do not manipulate the environment.

Correlational Research Detects relationships between variables. Does NOT say that one variable causes another. There is a positive correlation between ice cream and murder rates. Does that mean that ice cream causes murder?

Types of Correlation Negative Correlation Positive Correlation The variables go in opposite directions. Positive Correlation The variables go in the SAME direction. Studying and grades has a positive correlation. Drug use and grades has a negative correlation

Correlation Positive Correlation As one number increases, the other increases. Ex: Study time to GPA Negative Correlation As one number increases, the other decreases. Ex: Absences to GPA

CORRELATION IS NOT CAUSATION!!! People that floss everyday live 3 years longer than those that do not. Red wine drinkers live longer than those that do not drink red wine. As speed limits increased on America’s highways, the death rate went down. Women with breast implants commit suicide 3 times as often as those without breast implants. Children who are played Mozart in the womb have higher IQ’s. Marijuana users in youth are more likely to have mental illness as adults. As ice cream sales increased, so did shark attacks. More TV’s per person in a country, the longer people live.

Experimental Method Looking to prove cause and effect relationships. Laboratory v. Field Experiments Smoking causes health issues.

Population & Sample Identify the population you want to study. The sample must be representative of the population you want to study. GET A RANDOM SAMPLE.

Variables Independent Variable (I.V.): manipulated by experimenter Dependent Variable (D.V.): MEASURED variable influenced by independent Operational definition Confounding/extraneous variables

Random Assignment Once you have a random sample, randomly assigning them into two groups helps control for confounding variables.

Assign participants to groups Experimental group Receives the independent variable Control Group Does not receive the independent variable May receive a placebo A false treatment Make cause the placebo effect

Flaws in Research Sampling Bias Overgeneralization Placebo effect Hawthorne/Barnum effect Experimenter Bias

Eliminating Experimenter bias Single-blind study Double-blind study Participants do not know what group they are in Participants and experimenters are unaware who receives treatment

APA Ethical Guidelines for Research IRB- Institutional Review Board Must approve your study 1st Both for humans and animals.

Human Research No Coercion- must be voluntary Informed consent Confidentiality & Anonymity Do not harm Must debrief after

Animal Research Clear purpose Treated in a humane way Acquire animals legally Least amount of suffering possible.

Normal Distribution

Bell or Normal Curve 68% are within One standard deviation from mean 95% are within Two standard deviations from mean

Statistics Descriptive Statistics Central Tendency: mean – average median – middle score mode – most reoccurring number or numbers Measures of Variability: Standard deviation: shows how spread out the scores are from the mean Range: distance from smallest score to the largest score

Measures of Central Tendency A Skewed Distribution

Skews

Other measures of variability Range: distance from highest to lowest scores. Standard Deviation: the variance of scores around the mean. The higher the variance or SD, the more spread out the distribution is. Do scientists want a big or small SD? Shaq and Kobe may both score 30 ppg (same mean). But their SDs are very different.

Standard Deviation