Research Design Experimental Method

Why do we conduct Psychological research? (demos first)  Hindsight Bias  the “I-knew-it-all-along” phenomenon  Ex:  Overconfidence  we tend to think we know more than we do  Ex:

Why do research?  Experiment  Understanding the cause and effect relationship between two variables.  Ex: From 40 studies ??

Scientific Method State Problem Develop a Hypothesis Operationalize Definitions Identify Variables Identify Population & sample size

Hypothesis…  Hypothesis  a testable prediction  Example: If people watch violent television they will be more aggressive.

Variables….  Independent Variable  the experimental factor that is manipulated  Ex- Watching Violent TV  Dependent Variable  Measure of outcome of independent  Ex-Aggression

Operationalize….  Operational Definition  a statement of procedures used to define research variables  Ex:  Watching Violent TV=  Aggression=

Forming Groups Experimental Group- Those exposed to the independent variable Ex: ? Control Group- Those not exposed to the independent variable. Ex: ?

Confounding Variables Defined: a difference between experimental and control conditions that may effect the dependent variable -Subject-related= - some subjects may self select groups. -Situation-related= - location, time of day, weather, presence of others.

Common Flaws in Research Population and samples..  Population- The total group of subjects available. Ex: Representative Sample- - Do research subjects stand in for total population? Ex:My Ap Students Random Assignment of a sample  assigning participants to groups by chance  Why do we randomly assign? Stratified Sample- -sample represents the population based on a criteria. ( race, Gender. age) -Why stratify a sample?

Methods to overcome experimenter bias… Placebo &Placebo Effect-? Double-Blind Procedure- neither subjects nor researchers can affect outcome of experiment. Ex

APA Ethical Guidelines Informed Consent No Coercion Confidential Results No Risk or Harm Debrief

Advantages & Disadvantages: Experiment Advantages: CAN establish cause and effect Can actively manipulate variables via operationalization of variables Can use double blind procedure Can distinguish between real and placebo effects Can be replicated

Disadvantages: Experiments may be artificial or contrived Hard to establish controls, eliminate confounding variables Probability of bias $ and time consuming

Stop here…

Others Methods of Research: Case History= A biographical review of patients relevant history. Advantages: - In depth info - Rare Phenomena or unusual cases - Preexisting cases don’t involve ethics - Time and $ Factors - Disadvantages: - Can’t generalize results - Inaccurate reporting - no cause and effect

Description SSurvey tthe self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people rrepresentative, random sample of people Limitation: Intentions are not always translated into action

Demo- The survey Wording of survey question NY American Museum of Natural History ( word ignorance) CBS News Poll (Gender and race influence) 1992 Holocaust Survey ( poor framed questions)

Naturalistic Observation:  Naturalistic Observation  observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations Advantages: natural setting Disadvantages: cant generalize, variables are not controlled