Unit 2 Research Methods: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science
Module 7 Research Design and Ethics in Psychology Learning Targets 7-1 Explain the process of determining which research design to use. 7-2 Explain the value of simplified laboratory conditions in illuminating everyday life. 7-3 Explain why psychologists study animals, and describe the ethical guidelines that safeguard animal research subjects. 7-4 Describe the ethical guidelines that safeguard human research participants. 7-5 Describe how values affect psychological science.
How do psychologists decide which research design to use? Create a testable hypothesis. Does free will exist? (not testable) Do free will beliefs influence how people act? (testable)
How do researchers select the best research method? Case study? Experiment? Naturalistic observation? Correlational? Survey?
What are some basic research methods?
What are the creative steps to research? Design each study. Measure target behaviors. Interpret the results.
How can simplified laboratory conditions illuminate every day life? detecting the blink of a faint red light in a dark room specific findings ability to fly planes at night theoretical principles
The laboratory environment is designed to 1. What Would You Answer? 1. What Would You Answer? The laboratory environment is designed to exactly re-create the events of everyday life re-create psychological forces under controlled conditions. re-create psychological forces under random conditions. minimize the use of animals and humans in psychological research. provide the opportunity to do case study research.
Why do psychologists study animals? Animals are fascinating to study. Animals teach us about humans. Animals often have simpler systems.
What ethical guidelines safeguard animal research subjects? Housing animals under reasonably natural living conditions, with companions for social animals. ~British Psychological Society Researchers must provide “humane care and healthful conditions” and that testing should “minimize discomfort”. ~American Psychological Society Most universities screen research proposals, often through an animal care ethics committee, and laboratories are regulated and inspected.
How have animals benefited from animal research? Psychologists have helped zoos enrich animal environments, by reducing the “learned helplessness” of captivity and giving animals more choices. Gorillas in New York’s Bronx Zoo.
What ethical guidelines safeguard human research participants? informed consent right to withdraw debriefing protection from harm confidential
Let’s discuss informed consent… “Are you willing to participate in this experiment?” “This experiment involves exposure to graphic images that may be disturbing and random bursts of light that have been known to induce seizures. Are you willing to participate in this experiment?” Informed consent
Why is debriefing necessary? In some experiments, the true purpose cannot be revealed because it would influence the results. deception When temporary deception is necessary to the research, it must be fully explained at the conclusion of the experiment. debriefing
Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval informed consent 2. What Would You Answer? 2. What Would You Answer? Which ethical principle requires that at the end of the study, participants be told about the true purpose of the research? Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval informed consent confidentiality debriefing protection from physical harm
How do values affect psychological science? Should we study worker productivity or worker morale? Sex discrimination or gender differences? Conformity or independence?
How do the purpose and labels affect psychological science? To inform? To persuade? To enlighten? What is the purpose of the research? Did the participant react stubbornly or with resolve? Did the subject show fear or caution? How is behavior labeled?
Learning Target 7-1 Review Explain the process of determining which research design to use. Generate a testable hypothesis Consider the best research design Measure the variables Interpret the results
Learning Target 7-2 Review Explain the value of simplified laboratory conditions in illuminating everyday life. Researchers intentionally create a controlled, artificial environment in the laboratory in order to test general theoretical principles. These general principles help explain everyday behaviors.
Learning Target 7-3 Review Explain why psychologists study animals, and describe the ethical guidelines that safeguard animal research subjects. Interest in animal behavior Want to understand the processes shared by humans Government agencies have standards of care Professional associations have guidelines for protecting animal’s well-being.
Learning Target 7-4 Review Describe the ethical guidelines that safeguard human research participants. The APA ethics code outlines standards for safeguarding human participants’ well-being, including obtaining their informed consent and debriefing them later.
Learning Target 7-5 Review Describe how values affect psychological science. Psychologists’ values influence their choice of research topics, their theories and observations, their labels for behavior, and their professional advice. Applications of psychology’s principles have been used mainly in the service of humanity.