The Scientific Method The Scientific Method PMI Online Education

Scientific method Scientific method steps Psychologists perform empirical investigations using the steps Scientific method Ask a question. Research the topic. Formulate a hypothesis. Conduct an experiment. Analyze the data. Report the results. Modify the hypothesis. Let’s find some books about Mars. I only saw one plant on the entire planet. Let’s go to Mars and look! I think there is life on Mars. But only plant life exists on Mars. Is there life on Mars? There is life on Mars… Psychologists, like all other researchers, perform empirical investigations using the scientific method. The scientific method is a process by which a hypothesis is tested under conditions designed to control biases and limit subjective judgments. The steps may be broken out a bit differently, but in general, they are: 1. Ask a question 2. Research the topic 3. Formulate a hypothesis 3. Conduct an experiment 4. Analyze the data 5. Report results and modify hypothesis if appropriate. There is life on Mars!!! Is there life on Mars? 18

The Scientific Method

Which is better? Scientific method observation more popular religious choices moral decisions Do not use the more popular Scientific method Which is better? observation is a method to collect objective information The scientific method is not appropriate for answering questions that cannot be put to an objective, empirical test. This includes questions related to the appropriateness of religious choices, moral decisions, ethical issues, and personal preferences.  For example, an experimental study won't resolve the debate about which is better, chocolate or vanilla ice cream. However, you can determine which one is more popular through observation. Observation is a method through which researchers collect objective information. Three types of observation are naturalisic observation, case studies, and surveys. to answer questions that cannot be put to an objective, empirical test ethical issues Naturalistic observation Case Studies Surveys personal preferences

Watch individuals or groups within their natural habitats and record 3 Types of Observation Sit in an ice cream store and count how many people purchase chocolate and vanilla ice cream Naturalistic Observation Vanilla x2 $4.13 Chocolate x2 $4.13 Strawberry x1 $3.20 TOTAL $11.46 Watch individuals or groups within their natural habitats and record what you see Interview people on the street Examine receipts of an ice cream store Case Studies Collect information about specific individuals or groups through interviews Naturalistic observation means watching individuals or groups within their natural habitats and recording what you see. To find out if chocolate ice cream is more popular than vanilla ice cream using this type of obseration, you could sit in an ice cream store and count how many people purchase those flavors. In case studies, information about specific individuals or groups is collected mostly through interviews. For this type of observation, you could interview people on the street and ask them if they like chocolate ice cream better than vanilla. Surveys are conducted to obtain information about behaviors or processes that cannot be tested in experimental studies or through naturalistic observation. Information may also be gathered by using questionnaires or by studying public records. For this type of observation, you could examine the receipts of an ice cream store and take note of how much chocolate and vanilla ice cream was sold. Surveys Obtain information about behaviors or processes that cannot be tested or observed

Correlation isn’t necessarily causation Bias can affect Ways to Reduce Bias Beware of Study design results Correlation isn’t necessarily causation bias random sample Data Control group Even though the scientific method is designed to control bias, there is the potential for bias. Bias can affect the way an experimenter designs a study, collects data, or interprets results. Some ways to reduce bias are by careful selection of a random sample for study, use of a control group, making the study blind or double-blind, and being aware that correlation isn’t necessarily indicative of causation. Blind or double-blind 25

Sit in many ice cream stores in many locations In the experiment discussed earlier, if you want to find which ice cream flavor--chocolate or vanilla--is more popular, you would want to sit in many ice cream stores in many locations. If you only go to one ice cream store, your results may contain a bias if, for example, that particular store is runnning a special on vanilla ice cream. 25

ethics Emotional harm MENTAL harm American Psychological Association Code of Ethics Research must always consider MENTAL harm Emotional harm  Informed consent from humans  Debriefing about the study ethics  Research on animals Guidelines Individual orgranizations may have their own ethical research guidelines Research conducted on humans and animals must be performed in an ethical manner. While psychological research doesn’t necessarily cause physical harm, ethical guidelines attempt to help prevent emotional and mental harm to subjects in an experiment. The American Psychological Association has a code of ethics which includes specific guidelines for conducting research. Some of the requirements include obtaining informed consent from human participants and debriefing them about the study after it is completed. The APA’s ethical guidelines on research also address research on animals. Individual organizations, such as universities, may also have their own ethical guidelines related to research. 27

Psychology Core Concepts, 5th Ed. Based on: Psychology Core Concepts, 5th Ed. By: Philip G. Zimbardo, Robert L. Johnson, Ann L. Weber 27