Myers Chapter 1 (D): Problems and Solutions in Research A.P. Psychology

Do-Now (On Sheet) Complete “Variables in Experimental Research” worksheet individually Submit when finished

Problems in Experimental Research What types of problems do you think psychological researchers may encounter when conducting experimental research?

Problems in Experimental Research Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Researcher’s expectations influence his/her own behavior, and thereby influence the participant’s behavior (e.g. thinking a subject will respond in a certain way, and unassumingly acting in a manner that will cause the subject to then do so)

Problems in Experimental Research Have you ever experienced a “self-fulfilling prophecy?”

Problems in Experimental Research Placebo Effect: A change in a participant’s behavior that results from a belief that the treatment will have an effect, rather than the actual treatment (e.g. participant thinks he/she is receiving “Red Bull,” but instead receives non-caffeinated soda, and still “feels energized”)

Solutions in Experimental Research How can psychological researchers avoid self-fulfilling prophecies and placebo effects when conducting experimental research?

Solutions in Experimental Research Single-Blind Procedure: Participants are unaware of which participants received the treatment (e.g. participants do not know which participants received “Red Bull”) Double-Blind Procedure: Participants and experimenter(s) are unaware of which participants received the treatment (e.g. participants and experimenter(s) do not know which participants received “Red Bull”)

Solutions in Experimental Research How do single-blind and double-blind procedures help avoid self-fulfilling prophecies on behalf of the experimenter and participants?

Comparing Research Methods

Review What is a self-fulfilling prophecy in psychological research? What is a placebo effect? Identify two ways in which researchers can avoid a self-fulfilling prophecy on behalf of the researcher(s) and participant(s)?

“Creating an Experiment” Directions: Create a hypothetical psychological experiment that seeks to answer a question(s) that you may have. Respond to Questions 1-10 pertaining to your hypothetical research experiment Format: Typed Arial/Times New Roman 12-Point Font 1.5 Line Spacing

Homework Unit 2 Quiz: “Research Methods” “Creating an Experiment”