METHODS OF RESEARCH
RESEARCH METHODS HOW DO PSYCHOLOGISTS GO ABOUT TESTING A THEORY? VARIOUS FORMS OF RESEARCH ARE USED SPECIFIC STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN
FORUMLATE A HYPOTHESIS STATEMENT OF EXPECTED RESULTS. CLEARLY DEFINED
TEST HYPOTHESIS Determine the best method to use to test your hypothesis and then develop your procedures. Determine if you need an experimental group and one or more control groups.
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP IS EXPOSED TO THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE –WHAT YOU ARE TESTING CONTROL GROUP IS NOT EXPOSED TO THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD Experimental group-receives the independent variable Control group- does not receive the independent variable (may use placebo) Attempt to control other variables Measure results: dependent variable If………..(independent variable) Then……….(dependent variable)
AT 3:00 A.M. IN NYC, KITTY GENOVESE WAS ATTACKED ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF HER APARTMENT. IT TOOK THE MAN OVER 30 MINUTES TO MURDER HER.
38 NEIGHBORS STOOD AT THEIR WINDOWS AND WATCHED
KITTY BROKE AWAY FROM HER ASSAILANT, ONLY TO BE CAUGHT AGAIN. SHE SCREAMED FOR HELP OVER AND OVER AGAIN. NO ONE HELPED HER OR CALLED THE POLICE. FINALLY, ONE NEIGHBOR CALLED THE POLICE, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE FOR KITTY.
IN A GAME OF CATCH, THE WAY THE BALL IS THROWN WILL AFFECT WHETHER THE BALL IS CAUGHT. STUDENTS SCORE HIGHER ON ACT TESTS IN THE MORNING THAN IN THE AFTERNOON
STRICT PARENTS RAISE CHILDREN WHO RARELY GET IN TROUBLE. The independent variable is the “if” part of the experiment The dependent variable is the “then” part of the experiment-what you are measuring.
LABORATORY EXPERIMENT
FIELD EXPERIMENT
SURVEY METHOD
NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION
INTERVIEW
PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST MORE ACCURATE, OBJECTIVE DATA
PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST OFTEN COMBINED WITH THE INTERVIEW TO PROVIDE SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE PERSPECTIVE.
CASE STUDY METHOD
LONGITUDINAL METHOD
CROSS-SECTIONAL LESS EXPENSIVE AND TIME- CONSUMING THAN THE LONGITUDINAL METHOD. NOT APPROPRIATE FOR STUDIES ON DEVELOPMENT OVER TIME.
CAN YOU TRUST THOSE POLLS What method of gathering information has become a public relations and lobbying tool? Describe how opinions about funding for foreign aid can show different results depending upon how the question is asked. Give similar examples regarding funding for public television, the arts, and social security.
What are the five tips one should consider in assessing poll results? From what you now know about the standards of research studies, find out as much as you can about any study or poll that you read about in a newspaper or magazine.