8/24/04History, Perspectives Research Methods How should we find out about human thought and behavior? (Epistemological question) Guess? (intuition, gut instinct) Personal Experience? (a.k.a. anecdotal evidence) Scientific Method? (a.k.a. empirical evidence)
8/24/04History, Perspectives Scientific Method 1.Observe 2.Theorize 3.Hypothesize 4.Test 5.Replicate
8/24/04History, Perspectives Empiricism (Skepticism) How can we avoid the confirmation bias? Principle of Falisifiability Openness –Peer Review –Publication Standards
8/24/04History, Perspectives Data Data is any information we gather from participants Two main types: 1.Quantitative 2.Qualitative
8/24/04History, Perspectives Overall Issues in Psychological Research Sampling issues –Why is sampling so important? –Random samples –Representative samples Variables –Why are psychological variables challenging to measure? –Operational Definitions
8/24/04History, Perspectives Types of research methods Descriptive –Describe behaviors in detail –Cannot infer cause Inferential –Test the effect of a change in one variable on another variable –Can infer cause
8/24/04History, Perspectives Descriptive Research Methods 1.Naturalistic Observation –Advantages: –Problems: Reactivity 2.Survey -Advantages: -Problems: Sampling issues, wording issues 3.Case Study -Advantages: -Problems: Generalizability
8/24/04History, Perspectives Descriptive methods, cont’d 4.Correlation statistical measure of a relationship quantitative Can be Positive or Negative Pearson’s r (a.k.a. correlation coefficient) r = Be careful - Correlation does not = causation –Does = prediction
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8/24/04History, Perspectives Descriptive methods cont’d 5.Psychological Testing (a.k.a. psychological instruments) Used to measure a psychological variable like IQ, personality, etc. Often used in experiments, case studies, correlational studies, etc. Quantitative Reliability issues Validity Issues Standardization
8/24/04History, Perspectives Experimental Method Inferential, not descriptive Manipulate one variable to determine the effect on another variable Involves at least two groups - one with IV one without –IV = independent variable = what the experimenter changes –DV = dependant variable = what the experimenter measures –operational definitions = how you measure your variables Control vs. experimental groups –“true” experiments vs. quasi-experiments
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8/24/04History, Perspectives Assignment In an experiment, you need to assign your participants to groups after you select your sample Power of random assignment
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8/24/04History, Perspectives Limitations of Experimental Method You’re in trouble if you pick the wrong variables artificial environment some variables very difficult to study in an experimental way
8/24/04History, Perspectives Confounding Variables Definition: Subject relevant confounding variables –Examples: Situation relevant confounding variables –Examples:
8/24/04History, Perspectives Traps in any kind of Psychological research subject bias/demand characteristics –use a blind study experimenter bias/self-fulfilling prophecy –use a double blind study Placebo effect –use a control group
8/24/04History, Perspectives Statistics Statistics are ways of describing a set of data (distributions) Frequency distribution Graphs of distributions Descriptive statistics –Mean, median, mode –Standard deviation Inferential statistics –Statistical significance
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8/24/04History, Perspectives Ethical Guidelines for Animal Research 1.Have a clear scientific purpose The research must answer a specific, important scientific question Animals are chosen because they are best-suited to answer the question at hand 2.Care and housing of animals must be humane 3.Acquire animal subjects legally Animals must be purchased from accredited companies, and if wild animals must be used they need to be trapped in a humane manner 4.Experimental procedures must employ the least amount of suffering feasible
8/24/04History, Perspectives Ethical Guidelines for Human Research 1.Informed Consent - participants must know that they are involved in research and give their consent. Include in your informed consent document: Your name(s) and how to contact you to get results when the research is done That there is no risk of physical or psychological harm from your study Assurance of anonymity Assurance that they can stop participating at any time 2.Deception - if the participants are deceived in any way about the nature of the study, the deception must not be so extreme as to invalidate the informed consent. 3.Coercion - participants can not be coerced in any way to give consent to be in the study. 4.Anonymity - names and identity of participants must be kept confidential. 5.Risk - participants cannot be placed at mental or physical risk. 6.Debriefing Procedures - participants must be told the purpose of the study and provided with ways to contact the researchers about study results.