1 Chapter 2: Research Strategies Purposes of research Quantitative & Qualitative Strategies Time: short v. long-term Research Settings Tradeoffs Summary

2 Chap 2: Research Strategies Purposes Basic v. Applied –Testing theory v. Finding solutions –Give some examples –Lab v. natural settings –Experiments v. correlational –Theory v. trial & error

3 Basic v. Applied Basic: knowledge base –Kitty in the City: 1964 (Lassiter & Dudley, ’91) –What happened / how did it stimulate interest in theory? –To explain what? Identify potential applied problems –Attribution theory: self v. other causes Videotaped confessions? Do you believe what you see? Does focus on person or situation matter? –(Lassiter & Irvine, ’86) How could this theory apply to other problems in –Counseling, I/O psych?

4 Purposes of Research Evaluation Research –What are some programs that need it? Action Research (fig 2-1, p. 33) –Define problem –Research Collect data on possible causes Theories to explain them Find solutions Implement Evaluate implementation

5 Chap 2: Quant v. Qual Which are typical methods for each? –Case studies –Interviews –Surveys –Focus groups –Experiments –Correlational studies

6 Quant v. Qual Which is characterized by: –Ecological v. internal validity? –Objectivity v. subjectivity –Variables studied; Theory or personal experience –Piaget or Bowlby? –Experiential v. cause & effect? –Which do you prefer? Why?

7 Research Strategies Experimental, Correlational, Case study Experimental –Cause and effect Correlational –Relationships, descriptive Case Study –Observation, Usually long term, in depth Nomothetic v. idiographic?

8 Corr v. Experimental B = f (P,E) K. Lewin Individual differences Personality research –Personal Traits (stable) –What are some? Situational factors Social psychology –Personal States (variable) –What are some?

9 Experimental v. Correlational advantages & disadvantages Control over variables Internal validity v. external Getting participants Manipulation, measuring Cause & effect v. correlation Theory Ethical issues

10 Exp. V Corr Experimental –IV (Cause) –Manipulate –DV (effect) –Measure –Qual or quant Vars –More theoretical WHY? Correlational –Predictors –Measure –Outcomes (criteria) –Measure –Qual or quant vars –Less theoretical WHY?

11 B = f (P*E) Interaction of P*E –Main effects and interaction Can you use both experimental/corr? –Yes/no? Example: –Counseling: beh disorder * therapy type –I/O: Need for approval (ind diff) * Ldr style (leader style:laissez faire, high oversight)

12 Stats for each Experimental –ANOVA –ANCOVA Correlational –Regression –Multiple regression –Factor analysis –SEM structural equations modeling

13 Cf of ANOVA & Regression ANOVA = special case of regression General Linear Model (GLM) Experimental psychologists –ANOVA Individual psychologists –Regression.e.g I/O (personnel v. org psych)

14 Problem: Exp or Corr? TV violence and Aggression Situational v. individual diff Manipulate v. measure Reciprocal relationship? Other variables? (lurking, confounding) What are other similar types of problems? –Counseling –I/O

15 Time Perspectives: Short v. Long Short: –Cross/sectional Long term –E.g. Developmental research –Longitudinal –Cohort-sequential –Time-lagged comparisons Both: e.g. –Prior use reports of CDS for law enforcement

16 Prospective Research IV at time 1 and DV at time 2 (table 2-3) –To establish time precedence of IV What’s that?? –Type A stress Coronary disease Which comes first? –Problems Longitudinal –Attrition, history and testing effects

17 Outcome Evaluation (Program Evaluation p. 51 ) Examples –Treatment programs –Social programs –Educational programs –Organizational interventions Problems: –Attrition, history and testing effects

18 Research Strategies: Lab v. Field (p. 52) Strategies and settings Case study = single-case in laboratory Experiments in –Laboratory or –Field (field experiments) Give an example of a psych experiment could investigate how drivers reactions to red-light cameras (IV and DVs)

19 Research Settings Settings and Participants Target population and samples External validity v. theory testing –Generalize theory or findings? Give an example: Counseling/ I/O psych Convenience sample –What is it? Why would you use one?

20 Tradeoffs Samples –Hetero v. homogeneous Control –Lab v. natural setting Experiment v. Correlation –Manipulation v. Measure Validity –Internal validity v. external validity

21 Research Strategies: Summary Basic v. Applied –Which do you prefer? Quantitative v. Qualitative –Which is better? Experiment v. Correlational –Tradeoffs Time perspectives –Short v. Long Populations and samples –census or samples / homo or hetero Settings –lab v. field