CHAPTER 2 Methods of Psychology

Crash Course

What are the steps in the scientific method?

Scientific Method 1. DEFINE the variables we’ll measure 2. Formulate the HYPOTHESIS 3. Determine the POPULATION & SAMPLE to be tested 4. Determine the RESEARCH METHOD to use 5. Summarize the DATA 6. Determine appropriate STATISTICAL MEASURE to analyze data 7. Synthesize RESULTS

Defining the Variables Variables are specifically defined according to the needs of the researcher – Specific description of the variables to be measured – Helps researchers determine whether their research goals were achieved Example – Do women prefer men with a more masculine or feminine look?  Variables Masculine Face Chiseled Jaw Scruffy Thick Eyebrows Feminine Face Prominent cheek bones and dimples Man-scaped eyebrows Long curly eye lashes

What is a hypothesis?

Hypothesis Hypothesis – a statement of the results that the experimenter expects

Problems That May Skew Data Researcher Bias – researcher loses objectivity due to personal involvement and skews the results because of their own desired outcome Confirmation Bias – researcher tends to confirm rather than refute actual results in order to confirm existing beliefs Hindsight Bias – the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome that one would have foreseen it

Population All research focuses on a specific population  Subjects/Population – people involved in study  Sample – Smaller group representing a larger group  Representative group – truly reflects larger group

Random Sampling Selection where each member of a specified population has an equal chance of being selected

Systematic Sampling Selection of every X element of a group Ex. Every 3 rd person

Experiment The ultimate reason for completing an experiment is to show cause and effect through manipulation of variables

Variables Independent – manipulated Dependent – changes due to the independent Confounding variables – a factor other than the independent variable that causes a change in the dependent variable

Scientific Method Control Group – does not participate Experimental Group – participate

Why is it important to have a control group and an experimental group?

What do you think are different ways to research a hypothesis?

Research Methods Laboratory Study – conducted in a lab Field Studies – conducted outside the lab

How can a research psychologist tell if medicine is really beneficial to a patient or if it is just the power of suggestion?

Research Methods Placebos Double Blind Study

Field Study Survey – asking questions  Open-ended question – What type of ice cream do you like?  Closed-ended question – What type of ice cream do you like?  Vanilla  Chocolate  Strawberry

Field Study Naturalistic Observation – I can’t see you!!!

Never Been Kissed

What benefits could their be from completing a naturalistic observation? What would be some disadvantages?

Field Study Interviews – Helps obtain personal information

Field Study Case Study Method  Obtain long term information  Usually used to help treat a person  Cannot be used to generalize

Field Study Psychological Tests – What’s my IQ? What would be a disadvantage of a psychological test?

Field Study Longitudinal – Follows specific people their whole lives Cross sectional – takes examples from all age groups Are you smarter than your parents?

BLSA

A researcher is interested in how the activity levels of 4-yr olds is affected by viewing an exciting 30min video of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles versus a 30min calming video of Barney IV: DV: EG: CG: Example The therapist wants to test a new drug designed to increase the ability of teenagers with ADHD to take accurate notes in class IV: DV: EG: CG:

Example A researcher is interested in how the activity levels of 4-yr olds is affected by viewing an exciting 30min video of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles versus a 30min calming video of Barney IV: viewing 30min video of TMNT DV: activity level of 4yr olds EG: 4yr olds watching TMNT CG: 4yr olds watching Barney The therapist wants to test a new drug designed to increase the ability of teenagers with ADHD to take accurate notes in class IV: teens taking a drug DV: ability to take accurate notes EG: teens taking the drug CG: teens not taking the drug

Correlation Correlation – a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other

Positive Correlation Both things increase or decrease in the same direction

Negative Correlation Relationships increase or decrease in opposite directions

Correlation Determine whether the following has positive or negative correlation:  Blood pressure increases, cholesterol increases  The more you watch TV, the less you read  Students hours at work increase, students test grades decrease  Temperatures decrease, ice cream sales decrease

Summarize the Data Graphs, charts, and tables are ways to summarize your data

Determine the Appropriate Statistical Measure Statistical measures help us to process the data we have collected, and summarize it into quick and clear results MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCY – MEDIAN – The true middle value when the original data values are arranged in order – MODE – The score that occurs most frequently; denoted by M; can be used with nominal data – Bimodal; multimodal; no mode – a factor other than the IV that does influence the DV – Mean – The number obtained by adding the values and dividing by the number of values

Distribution of Data Normal Distribution - Data is symmetrical mean, median, and mode

Distribution of Data Skewed Distribution – data lays more in the direction of outlying scores

Synthesis Results Results and conclusion sections are used to summarize, in words, the information found in the data and statistics sections Questions You Can Attempt To Answer in Your Conclusion 1. Was my hypothesis correct? Why or why not? 2. What are some real-life applications to my controlled experiment? 3. What do my graphs and data tables say? 4. What are some other studies that have been done on, or related to, my subject? 5. How generalizable are my results? 6. Was there any experimenter bias? 7. Was this study ethical? 8. Could this study have been improved in any way?

What are ethics and why are they important?

APA Ethics 1. The right to decline participation 2. Openness and honesty 3. Confidentiality 4. Assess risks

What about all the cute little animals in the world that are tested on?