Scientific & Research Methods in Psychology

Initial Observation Media reports of victims who did not receive help…

Logical Analysis = Why? Why did victims not receive help, despite the presence of many bystanders? Could a critical factor be diffusion of responsibility?

Testable Hypothesis If subjects are confronted with an apparent emergency, then the likelihood of them helping and the speed with which they intervene should be reduced as the number of fellow bystanders increases.

New Observations {Research} The number of bystanders is manipulated in a series of laboratory and field studies in which various “emergencies” occur. The results of these studies support the hypothesis.

Theory-Building These findings result in a Theory of Social Impact which relates diffusion of responsibility and other group processes to a variety of social phenomena.

New Hypotheses & Observations Derived from the Theory The case of Kitty Genovese

Hypothesis A statement of the results a researcher EXPECTS!!! A testable prediction, often implied by a theory. *i.e.: If you eat an apple every day then you will keep the Doctor away.

Subjects People (or animals) on whom studies are conducted Population: all the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn. *Note: Except for national studies, this doesn’t refer to a country’s whole population. Random Sample: Sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion Random Sampling: choosing at random participants from a larger population. Random samples are chosen for research ie:surveys, interviews, experiments Randomm Assignment: involves taking a randomly chosen sample & assigning the participants at random to either the experimental or control group in an experiment. Random assignment ONLY APPLIES TO EXPERIMENTS.

Variables Independent Variable: The factor the researcher changes or manipulates in a study. (I.V.) Dependent Variable: The factor in the study that changes or varies as a result of the manipulations in the independent variable. (D.V.) Confounding Variable: A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment

Say WHAT???!!! How can you tell which is the I.V. & which is the D.V.? Most hypotheses contain the words if & then. i.e.: IF you eat an apple every day, THEN you will keep the Doctor away. IF refers to the I.V. (what is controlled) THEN refers to the D.V. (what is measured)

Other important factors of the research process… Control Group: This group of subjects DO NOT participate in the critical party of the study. *i.e.: Subjects would receive a placebo. Experimental Group: These subjects DO take part in the crucial part of the study. *i.e. Subjects would receive the actual medicine. Placebo: A “fake medicine” or sugar pill that has no active ingredients & works by the power of suggestion…or not at all!

***Operational Definition*** A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. i.e.: human intelligence; happiness; popularity; good music; love; road rage….

Now you try it… If a request is made by a person in uniform (like a policeperson), then more people will agree to a request made by someone with a uniform.

Make it a Single or a Double? Single-Blind Study: Subjects don’t know to which group (control/experimental) they belong, but the researcher does. Double-Blind Study: Neither participants nor researchers know to which group any subject belongs.

Research Methods in Psychology Survey Method: Involves asking subjects questions about their feelings, opinions or behavior patterns. *i.e.: Mail, Face-to-Face, Phone, Internet… *Pro: Can reach a very large population and gather info quickly *Con: Skewed results based on who replies; Sorting fact from fiction; Truly representative? Naturalistic Observation: Researchers secretly observe the subjects of the study in daily activity, carefully recording their behavior. *Advantage: Subjects behave as they normally do *Disadvantage: Observer is not able to talk/interact with the subject.

Naturalistic Observation

More Research Methods… Case Study: Research that collects lengthy, detailed info. About one person’s background, usually for psych. Treatment. Interviews: Researcher meets subject(s) face to face and asking ?s. *Advantage: Personal & detailed info. gathered *Disadvantage: Sorting fact from fiction

And Even More… Cross-Sectional Study: Research that looks @ different age groups @ the same time in order to understand changes that occur. Longitudinal Study: Studies the same group of people over an extended period of time.

Ghosting…