Research Methods in Psychology Conducting Research

Bell Ringer What major difference(s) exist between the 2009 and the 2012 “Marshmallow study”?

Objectives Name the proper procedures that follow while conducting research. Analyze the significance of replicating a study.

Pre-Research Decisions Psychology = systematic study Examples of research Turning on the television, going to the movies Planning for research Sample Random sample: equal chance Stratified Sample: equally represented Assumptions supported by evidence, doubt claims

The Five Steps to Research Form a research question Experience, theory, common knowledge “Opposites attract.” = Are people with opposite personality traits really attracted to each other? “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” = Is beauty a matter of individual preference, or are there common standards for beauty?

The Five Steps to Research Form a Hypothesis (if, then statement) Hypothesis = educated guess/proposed solution, accuracy tested 1. If I replace the battery in my car, then my car will get better gas mileage. 2. If I add fertilizer to my garden, then my plants will grow faster. 3. If I brush my teeth every day, then I will not develop cavities. 4. If a prisoner learns a work skill while in jail, then he is less likely to commit a crime when he is released. 

PRACTICE Turn to a partner to come up with a testable hypothesis for the following examples: How does the type of shoe I wear (high-heels, tennis shoes, flip flops) affect how high I can jump? How does the number of pieces of gum I chew (1, 3, 5) affect how big of a bubble I can blow? How does the amount of water you give to a plant each day (no water, 1 spoonful, 1 cup) affect how tall the plant will grow after 3 weeks?

The Five Steps to Research Testing a Hypothesis Ask our sample a question that is not biased Analyzing the Results Make sense of what the data means Verify the findings Drawing Conclusions Necessary to keep an open mind, modify hypothesis

Steps to Research Replication Confirm findings by repeating the study Why was my hypothesis not proven true? Circumstances Participants New Questions Contradict or support hypothesis Who is it specifically influenced by? As a result, process starts all over!

Question Hypothesis Experiment Results Conclusions Theory Steps to Research Question Hypothesis Experiment Results Additional hypothesis Reject and revise Conclusions Replication Theory

Assignment For this assignment you will be looking at the current research done with the “marshmallow study” to determine whether the science used behind the research is reliable and valid by using the resources from the video. What is the research question? What is the hypothesis? Who makes up the sample? Describe how they tested the hypothesis. Analyze the data. What were the results of the research (theory)? Do you agree with the results of their research? Is there any bias? Explain.

Examples Unclear: Why are social networking sites harmful? Clear: How are online users experiencing or addressing privacy issues on such social networking sites as MySpace and Facebook? Unfocused: What is the effect on the environment from global warming? Focused: How is glacial melting affecting penguins in Antarctica? Too simple: How are doctors addressing diabetes in the U.S.? Appropriately Complex:  What are common traits of those suffering from diabetes in America, and how can these commonalities be used to aid the medical community in prevention of the disease?

Methods of Research

Bell Ringer Everyone needs to choose one of the research question you wrote on your sheet to write on the board. Once everyone has written a research question on the board, you will need to choose two of the questions on the board (NOT YOURS) and write a hypothesis for it.

Describe the methods of research commonly used by psychologists. Objective Describe the methods of research commonly used by psychologists.

Methods of Research Naturalistic Observation Looking at behavior, people are unaware of being observed Cardinal Rule = avoid disturbing the subject Ex: Jane Goodall Advantage = witness behavior, not artificial Disadvantage = no control over setting/events

Methods of Research Case Study Intensive study of a person or group Do not prove anything, generate new hypotheses Ex: Sybil Dorsett (Shirley Mason) Advantage: provides insight to specific cases Disadvantage: distort past experiences, encourage a certain answer

Methods of Research Surveys Most practical way to gather information Information obtained by fixed questions Advantage: gather information from a large group Disadvantage: people may not be entirely honest, does not represent the entire population

Methods of Research Longitudinal Studies Observed at intervals over an extended period of time. Advantage: see how people change over time Disadvantage: time consuming, expensive, participants are unavailable

Methods of Research Cross-Sectional Studies Compare differences/similarities among people Advantage: Less time-consuming than longitudinal method Disadvantage: differences cannot be attributed to age or development

Methods of Research Correlations Best to interpret and analyze observations Measure how close one thing is related to another Stronger correlation, closer they are related Positive correlation: as one goes up, so does the other (+,+) Negative correlation: as one goes up, the other goes down (+,-) Only reveals relationship between two things