Methods in Social Psychology

Why learn about research methods? It can make you a better thinker It can help you understand research that you read about

Step 1: Make a hypothesis Hypotheses can come from Personal experience Previous research Theory Hypotheses must have Testable variables Stated relationship

What does it mean for a variable to be “testable”? It must be stated in a way that it could be measured. Which of these are testable? Generosity Blood pressure Scores on a math test Love Attraction If they aren’t testable, how could you test them?

Are these good hypotheses? People in the United States are more violent. Women are better listeners than men. People who own dogs are happier than people who own cats. Meditation makes people calmer.

Step 2: Choose a sample Is your sample randomly chosen from the population? Is your sample biased in some way?

Step 3: Choose a method Observational research Correlational research Experiment

Observation Qualitative(words) vs. quantitative (numbers) Systematic observation Participant observation (overt vs. covert) Nonparticipant observation Archival or indirect observation

Advantages of observation

Disadvantages of observation

Correlational research Measure 2 or more variables and relate them to one another Correlation coefficient that ranges from -1 to +1 Negative vs. positive correlation

Correlation does not equal causation The more storks there are resting on N. European rooftops, the more births there are 9 months later. The more people weigh, the higher their salaries. The larger a woman’s feet, the less trouble she has in childbirth. The more ice cream being bought in a region, the greater the number of drownings. The more active children are in Boy/Girl Scouts, the less likely they are to commit a street crime. People who eat breakfast tend to live longer than people who skip breakfast.

Advantages of correlational research

Disadvantages of correlational research

Experiments Have to have random assignment To conditions Independent variable (one the researcher varies) Dependent variable (one the researcher measures)

What are the independent and dependent variables? People are randomly assigned to sit in a room that is cold or a room that is warm. Researchers ask them to rate how satisfied they are with their lives. A researcher drops books in front of randomly chosen people outside the student center to see if they stop to help her pick them up. Sometimes the people are alone and sometimes they are in small groups. People view one of three advertisements for a product—one uses humor, one talks about the advantages of the product and the last one talks about how much better the product is than the competitor’s product. Then the researcher asks participants how likely they are to buy the product.

How do we know if a study is good? Internal validity—control in the study External validity—how much it relates to real life Good research includes replications.

Other distinctions from the readings Lab vs. field research Basic vs. applied research

Research ethics Informed consent Risks vs. benefits Confidentiality Voluntary Deception Debriefing