Educational Psychology Define and contrast descriptive, correlational and experimental studies, giving examples of how each of these have been used in educational psychology. Define the four basic methods used to collect data in educational psychology (systematic observation, participant observation, paper/pencil, and clinical), giving an example of how each has been used in the study of important variables in educational psychology.

Educational Psychology In your discussion, define and differentiate the following terms: fact, concept, principle, hypothesis, theory, and law. Developed by W. Huitt (1999)

There are a variety of ways of validating truth: Intuition Religious scripture and interpretation Philosophy and logical reasoning Science and the scientific method Social and/or cultural consensus Personal experience Research in Educational Psychology

In order for a process to be described as “scientific” it must meet three criteria: knowledge must be grounded in experience knowledge must be grounded in a paradigm or exemplar any hypothesis must be potentially falsifiable Research in Educational Psychology

Some scientists argue that the only appropriate phenomena to study using the scientific method is behavior that is observable by others However, other scientists believe that personal and interpersonal subjective experiences can also be studied using the scientific method Research in Educational Psychology

Educational psychology offers a fertile opportunity for scientists to demonstrate the validity of these opposing viewpoints Sample topics that have been addressed include: Cognitive development Teaching methods for concept development Language development Research in Educational Psychology

The scientific method can be used to engage in Research where the objective is to gain understanding of a particular phenomena OR Evaluation where the objective is to make a judgement of worth or value Research in Educational Psychology

Assessment Qualitative Quantitative Measurement Research Evaluation

There are three different types of studies used in scientific investigations Used when we have little knowledge of a phenomena and we want to describe it accurately and truthfully Descriptive study Research in Educational Psychology

There are three different types of studies used in scientific investigations Used when we want to understand the relationships among variables and make predictions from present circumstances to future ones Correlational study Research in Educational Psychology

There are three different types of studies used in scientific investigations Correlation coefficient describes the strength of the relationship Correlational study Range is from -1 to +1 Research in Educational Psychology

Example of A Perfect Correlation

Example of A Zero Correlation

There are three different types of studies used in scientific investigations Correlation coefficient describes the strength of the relationship Correlational study Range is from -1 to +1 Type of relationship is determined by sign Research in Educational Psychology

Example of A Positive Correlation

Example of A Negative Correlation

There are three different types of studies used in scientific investigations Correlation coefficient describes the strength of the relationship Correlational study Range is from -1 to +1 Type of relationship is determined by sign Strength of relationship is determined by absolute value Research in Educational Psychology

.60 >.40 (Regardless of sign)

There are three different types of studies used in scientific investigations Used when we have a fairly good understanding of predictive relationships and we want to demonstrate cause/effect relationships Experimental study Research in Educational Psychology

There are three different types of studies used in scientific investigations Must have at least two groups Experimental study Subjects must be randomly assigned One group must experience a treatment The INDEPENDENT variable is manipulated Change (if any) is observed in the DEPENDENT variable Research in Educational Psychology

There are three different types of studies used in scientific investigations Experimental study Research in Educational Psychology Only Results from Experimental Studies Can Demonstrate Cause and Effect Relationships

There are four basic methods used to gather data to be used in scientific studies. Each of the methods can be used in all three types of studies: Paper/pencil -- any information gathered by asking the subject a question Methods of Gathering Data Systematic observation -- trained recorder gathers data on prearranged variables

There are four basic methods used to gather data to be used in scientific studies. Each of the methods can be used in all three types of studies: Participant observation -- the person collecting the data participates in the process being observed Methods of Gathering Data Clinical -- specially-trained practitioners gather data as part of a diagnostic/ prescriptive activity

Use of the scientific method results in an increasingly sophisticated knowledge base: FACT names and dates of important activities; population of the United States in the latest census an idea or action that can be verified The Scientific Method

Use of the scientific method results in an increasingly sophisticated knowledge base: CONCEPT rules that allow for categorization of events, places, people, ideas, etc. a DESK is a piece of FURNITURE designed with a flat top for writing; a CHAIR is a piece of FURNITURE designed for sitting; a CHAIR with a flat surface attached to it that is designed for writing is also called a DESK The Scientific Method

Use of the scientific method results in an increasingly sophisticated knowledge base: PRINCIPLE relationship(s) between/among facts and/or concepts the number of children in the family is related to the average scores on nationally standardized achievement tests for those children The Scientific Method

Use of the scientific method results in an increasingly sophisticated knowledge base: HYPOTHESIS educated guess about relationships (principles) for lower-division, undergraduate students study habits is a better predictor of success in a college course than is a measure of intelligence or reading comprehension The Scientific Method

Use of the scientific method results in an increasingly sophisticated knowledge base: THEORY set of facts, concepts, and principles that allow description and EXPLANATION Piaget's theory of cognitive development, Erikson's theory of socioemotional development, Skinner's theory of operant conditioning The Scientific Method

Use of the scientific method results in an increasingly sophisticated knowledge base: LAW firmly established, thoroughly tested, principle or theory a fixed interval schedule for delivering reinforcement produces a scalloping effect on behavior The Scientific Method

Use of the scientific method does not necessarily invalidate information gathered through other means. However, when data from science seem to contradict data from personal experience, intuition, social or cultural consensus, religious scripture and interpretation, or philosophy and rational thinking, an opportunity for learning has presented itself. The Scientific Method

As stated previously, educational psychology is a SCIENTIFIC approach to the study of the teaching/learning process. You will be expected to support your opinions developed through another source with data collected using the scientific method. The Scientific Method

AN IMPORTANT CAVEAT Only a small amount of the principles and theories developed in educational psychology have support from a body of research developed through the use of experimental studies. Therefore, most of the concepts, principles, and theories discussed in this course must be considered as best-first-guess hypotheses. Research in Educational Psychology