How is Psychology Conducted?

The Need For Psychological Science  Common Sense and Intuition  What is common sense?  How does it effect intuition?  Can we trust our intuition?

The Need For Psychological Science  Hindsight Bias  I-Knew-It-All–Along Phenomenon  Happens when one learns a fact and it immediately sounds like common sense  In your notes, write down an example of a time when hindsight bias happened to you. (school appropriate)  Can psychology overturn common sense ideas?

The Need For Psychological Science  Overconfidence  Unscramble these words  rvocnodefceeni=  rmaacei=  arnbi=  How does overconfidence relate to hindsight bias?  How can we avoid overconfidence? Is it avoidable?

Attitude is everything  The scientific attitude:  Requires types of attitude 1. Curiosity  Why is curiosity important? 2. Skepticism  What do you mean? How do you know? 3. Humility  Why is humility important?  A1+A2+A3=  Critical Thinking

The Scientific Method  A self-correcting method process for asking questions and observing nature answer  Steps: 1. Ask a question 2. Research the question 3. Refine your question 4. Develop a hypothesis (theory) 5. Choose a method 6. Test the hypothesis 7. Analyzes the results 8. Communicate your results

Good Science  Theories  Hypotheses  Research and Observations  Refine and Generate Theory  What is a Theory?  An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations  Good Theories Consist of: 1. Organizing and linking observed facts 2. Implying hypotheses that offer testable predictions and, sometimes, practical applications.

Good Science  In your notes, 1. Develop and original theory 2. Develop a hypothesis  A testable prediction

Methods  Qualitative.VS. Quantitative Qualitative: data gathered by statements, experiences, impressions. Think Words Quantitative: Data gathered and translated into numbers Think Numbers Hybrid Studies: combine quantitative and qualitative data

Methods  The Case Study  One of the oldest forms of psychological research  In depth studies of people in the hope of revealing universal principles  What are some case studies you are aware of?  What are the strengths and weaknesses of this type of study?  Example:

Methods  The survey  A technique used to gather self-reported attitudes and behaviors  Used in descriptive and correlational studies

Methods Steps to constructing a survey Develop a Question Select a population Choose a sample type Construct the survey Send it to population

Methods  Asking the right questions Ask Neutral Questions Neutral questions allow respondents to express their opinion, without bias Wording Effects: The words you use can change the outcome of the question Ex: 27% of people disapprove of “government censorship” of sex and violence. However, 66% approve of more restrictions

Methods  Sampling  Key is a survey is randomization  False Consensus: The tendency to overestimate the extent to which other share our beliefs and behaviors  Population: Every one in a particular group  Random Sample: a sample that represents the population.  Everyone in the target population has the same chance to be surveyed

Methods  Naturalistic Observation:  Observing and recording behavior in a naturally occurring situations without trying to control or manipulate the situation  Does not explain behavior it describes it 

Correlation  Correlation happens when two traits or behaviors accompany one another  Shown using scatter plots

Correlation  Correlation Coefficient  A statistical measure of the extent to which two factors very together  R=+.78

Correlation  Misreading Correlation  Correlation indicates the possibility of a cause and effect relationship, but does not prove causation  Illusionary correlation: a perceived non existent correlation  Ex: zpvMIhttps:// zpvMI

Experimentation  To discern cause and effect psychologists experiment  Experimenters can manipulate one or more factors to determine cause and effect  The experimenter manipulates independent variables to observe a dependent variable (the behavior or mental process)  Uses random assignment to minimize differences between the two groups (the control and experimental condition)  Ex: