Research in Psychology

The Need for Psychological Science Intuition & Common Sense Many people believe that intuition and common sense are enough to bring forth answers regarding human nature. Intuition and common sense may aid queries, but they are not free of error.

The Need for Psychological Science Hindsight Bias is the “I-knew-it-all-along” phenomenon. After learning the outcome of an event, many people believe they could have predicted that very outcome. Example: 9/11 OBJECTIVE 1| Describe hindsight bias and explain how it can make research findings seem like mere common sense. “Anything seems commonplace, once explained.” Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes. Two phenomena – hindsight bias and judgmental overconfidence – illustrate why we cannot rely solely on intuition and common sense.

How long do you think it would take to solve these? LSVIE ELVIS OVLE LOVE HOKCS SHOCK IANPO PIANO

The Need for Psychological Science Sometimes we think we know more than we actually know =Over Confidence. Anagram How long do you think it would take to unscramble these anagrams? WREAT WATER ETYRN ENTRY OBJECTIVE 2| Describe how overconfidence contaminates our everyday judgments. People said it would take about 10 seconds, yet on average they took about 3 minutes (Goranson, 1978). GRABE BARGE

The Goals of Psychology? Description Describe or gather information about behavior Explanation Seek to explain why people behave the way they do Hypothesis – educated guess about phenomenon Theory – explanation based on findings from experimental studies

The Goals of Psychology Prediction As a result of tested knowledge What will organisms do, think, feel in various situations Influence Manipulate an organism Basic science – pursuit of knowledge Applied science – want to solve problems Ex. Orphans

Scientific Method Question Hypothesis Experiment Results Reject and revise Hypothesis Additional Hypotheses Conclusions Other psychologist Replicate and test theory Theory

Pre-research Decisions Samples – relatively small group of a specific population Representative sample – Population researcher is studying Nonrepresentative sample – Over sampling a population

Pre-Research Example Example of Nonrepresentative sample. I want to see how many ugly girls are in sororities on average Representative sample – all sororities girls Nonrepresentative sample – all good looking girls / all ugly girls

Pre-Research Decisions Types of Samples to Avoid NS Random Sample – Every person in group has equal chance of participating Stratified Sample – Consciously picking people so that each sub group is represented dang

Methods of Research Naturalistic Observation – observing subject with out interference “I have found that it isn’t only humans that have personalities, minds, and feelings.” – Jane Goodall Jane Goodall

Methods of Research Case Studies – intensive long-term study on a group or one person. Results could be unique to that study Does not prove or disprove anything.

Methods of Research Surveys Longitudinal Study Fastest way to collect data People usually more honest Longitudinal Study Study of the same group over a long period of time

Methods of Research Cross-Sectional Studies Correlation Individuals are grouped on the basis of age Then groups are sampled, researched Correlation To explain how two sets of data are related

Methods of Research Positive Correlation means that two sets of scores such as height and weight, tend to rise and fall together. Negative Correlation means that two things relate inversely, as one set of scores goes up the other goes down.

(positive or negative) Methods of Research When one trait or behavior accompanies another, we say the two correlate. Indicates strength of relationship (0.00 to 1.00) Correlation coefficient r = + 0.37 OBJECTIVE 8| Describe positive and negative correlations and explain how correlational measures can aid the process of prediction. Correlation Coefficient is a statistical measure of the relationship between two variables. Indicates direction of relationship (positive or negative)

Methods of Research Perfect positive correlation (+1.00) Scatterplot is a graph comprised of points that are generated by values of two variables. The slope of the points depicts the direction, while the amount of scatter depicts the strength of the relationship.

Methods of Research Perfect negative correlation (-1.00) No relationship (0.00) The Scatterplot on the left shows a negative correlation, while the one on the right shows no relationship between the two variables.

Methods of Research Is this a positive or negative correlation?

Positive or negative?

Examples of Correlation The higher the IQ the higher standardized test score. The less someone stays sober, the less they go to work. The more TV is on in the Homes of young children, the less time they spend reading (Kaiser, 2003). The more sexual content teens see on TV, the more likely they are to have sex (Collins, et. al., 2004). The Longer children are breast-fed, the greater their later academic achievements (Horwood &Fergusson, 1998). The more income rose among poor families, the fewer psychiatric symptoms their children experienced (Costello, et. al., 2003) The more beans Mr. Jenkins eats, the more air biscuits are created (Jenkins, right now).

Methods of Research Experiments Cause and effect Variables Independent Focus of the study Can be changed or alternated to observe effects Dependent factor that may change in response to an independent variable

Methods of Research Experiments Identify Independent and dependent variables examples A study was conducted to find the effect of breastfeeding on intelligence. How does the number of hours you study affect your performance on an exam?

Methods of Research Experiments Experimental Group Control Group Participants exposed to the independent variable Control Group Treated the same as experimental group Not exposed to the independent variable

Avoiding Self-Fulfilling Prophecy If you were told “You are going to die on Friday the 13th when you are 30 – do you think you would? What if I said “you are for sure going to fail the first test!” – would you? Would it play any role in your studying?

Avoiding Self-Fulfilling Prophecy a situation in which a researcher’s expectations influence that persons own behavior, and thereby influences the participants behavior.

Avoiding Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Single-blind experiment – participants are unaware who is getting “treatment” and who isn’t. Experimenter knows Double-blind experiment – experimenter nor participants know which participants receiving treatment.

Avoiding Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Placebo effect – change in a patients illness or physical state that results solely from a patient thinking he/she is receiving a treatment.

But, is it ethical?