The major emphasis of _______________is the study of the unconscious . QUESTION OF THE DAY The major emphasis of _______________is the study of the unconscious .

Chapter Preview Ethics in research Research methods descriptive Correlational experimental

Why do we use the scientific method? We have questions to everyday life that needs answers. ---Psychologist take an observation of everyday life, develop a theory that might explain that observation, and then test their ideas systematically using the scientific method. “Coffee Drinkers are smarter” .how to evaluate claims -critical thinking (soursop and cancer cure)

What is the scientific method? 1.Observation 2. Formulate a hypothesis; (make an educated guess, or a prediction) 3. Test the hypothesis 4. Draw conclusions 5. Evaluate the theory

Three Main Types of Psychological research Descriptive research Correlational research Experimental research

Descriptive research Used to describe a phenomenon, it cannot be used to determine cause and effect or for prediction. Naturalistic observation case-study survey

Naturalistic Observation Watch subjects in their natural environment. Do not manipulate the environment. “kids who share their toys, are also the first to help others”

Survey Method Most common type of study in psychology Cheap and fast Uses interviews/questionnaires to gather information about attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors of a group of people.

Case Studies In a case study, a single individual or small number of persons are studies in great depth. --involves the use of observations, interviews, medical history, & psychological testing. limitation--findings are not applicable to the general public. Serial killers who are diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder! E.g. mild-mannered Jeffrey Dahmer was accused of killing, raping, torturing, and even in some cases eating a total of 17 victims between 1978 and 1991. Medical doctors (cause of death) (thiodan 35 poisoning)

Correlational Method A method used to establish a degree of relationship between 2 variables. Does not show causation. Variables: events, behaviors, characteristics Correlation between the amount of study time and GPA.

Correlation method Obtain a Correlation Coefficient (Pearson's r)= numerical value that indicates strength and direction between the variables r= ranges form +1.00 to 0.0 to -1.00 E.g. Positive correlation between illness and stress

Types of correlation Positive Correlation Negative Correlations Studying and GPA Drug use and GPA 3+study hours Time spent at mall 0 study hours Note: Scatter plots may tend to confuse introductory students if you do not take time to explain the basics about how to interpret scatter plots. Low GPA High GPA Money in bank account The variables go in the SAME direction Variables go in OPPOSITE directions

Correlation Coefficients 1.00 Perfect Very Strong .75 Strong .50 Moderate .25 Suggestion: Cite examples of familiar real-life correlations that fall within each range. Weak None

Correlation does not prove causation One variable does not necessarily cause the other. Stress Illness Illness Stress Stress Poverty Illness

Why are correlational methods useful Correlational research is useful to making predictions For ethical reasons Quick and cheap E.g. SAT and GPA, # of cigarettes smoked vs. years lived, grades and TV time.

Discussion question A study shows that there is a -.87 correlation between a student's anxiety before a test and the student's score after the test. What can you conclude? Student’s test anxiety caused student to perform poorly. Student’s poor performance caused him to have an anxiety. There is a negative relationship between these two variables.

Remember it In positive correlation, two variables move in the _______________ In negative correlation, two variables move in the _______________

Operational Definitions, Discussion Number of packs people smoke vs. years lived. Formulate a hypothesis. What is the Independent Variable and Dependent variable?

Independent and dependent variables The independent variable can be manipulated and causes changes in some other variable. i The dependent variable is the one that is measured at the end of the experiment. e.g. Example of study Music can boost your memory! IV: music DV: memory defined as completing the word list. Researchers must precisely specify how the variables will be observed and measured.

Experimental method The only research method used to identify cause-effect relationships. There must at lease one experimental group and one control group

Research Sample The sample must be a representative of the population you want to study. Identify the population you want to Sample Representative Sample characteristics similar to population Random Sample Each individual in population has equal chance of being selected. Note that genuinely random sampling (by this definition) is virtually never achieved in practice. It is an ideal to which researchers aspire. Discuss advantages of random sampling (and of aspiring to it), (e.g., achieving representativeness not only on known variables, but unknown ones as well). Instructor might contrast this with “convenience” sampling, a more common practice.

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

Experimental design Experimental group A group of participants who are exposed to the independent variable or treatment. Control group Used for purposes of comparison, is not exposed to the independent variable An experiment is designed to test a casual hypothesis, a prediction about a cause-effect relationship between two or more variables. Can we assume that Alcohol consumption causes aggression.

Experimental Method Looking to prove causal relationships. Cause = Effect Laboratory v. Field Experiments Smoking causes health issues.

Beware of Confounding Variables The object of an experiment is to prove that A causes B. A confounding variable is anything that could cause change in B, that is not A. If I wanted to prove that smoking causes heart disease, what are some confounding variables? Lifestyle and family history may also effect the heart.

Confounding variables Three sources of bias responsible for confounding variables Selection Bias: systematic differences are present at the beginning of the study---to avoid use random assignment Experimenter Bias: they find what they expect to find----to avoid use double blind technique

Other Confounding Variables Placebo-effect occurs when subject’s response to treatment is due to expectation rather than the treatment itself. placebo is a harmless substance.

APA Ethical Guidelines for Research Institutional approval Informed Consent All participants must know what their participation will involve and what risk might develop. Confidentiality Keeping all data confidential and anonymous Debriefing Informing participants the purpose of the research and the methods used after the study or before. Deception Not telling participants exactly what a study is about.

Human Research Must be voluntary Informed consent Anonymity No significant risk, causes no physical or psychological harm to the participant Must debrief after the experiment

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