Psychology I Psychological Research Methods and Statistics

Psychology as a Science Psychology is a science based in research that uses specific techniques to gather and analyze information. Basic research seeks to answer questions that you may be curious about, but the information learned may not be immediately used. Example: Studying why people’s food preferences change may be interesting, but that’s about it. Applied research has clear, practical applications; you can use it. Example: Studying therapies to help people who abuse alcohol has a clear purpose.

Research Terminology Hypothesis: an educated guess about an expected outcome. The hypothesis specifies the important variables of the study. Variables: conditions and behaviors that are subject to change; two types, dependent and independent. Independent variable: the condition that is changed so that its effects can be observed. Dependent variable: the behavior that changes in response to the independent variable. Sample: a small group of participants out of the total number available.

PRE-RESEARCH DECISIONS Ask a specific question about a limited topic or hypothesis. Decide on the method to be used to gather evidence. Select a sample.

SAMPLES Representative: a relatively small group of participants from an entire population of all possible participants with characteristics that closely match the characteristics of the whole population.

SAMPLES Non-representative: a group of participants from an entire population whose characteristics are disproportionate to the characteristics of the whole population. To avoid a non-representative same, a group of participants may be chosen randomly from a larger group (random sample), or chosen deliberately from various subgroups in the population (stratified sample).

Methods of Research: Naturalistic Observation Naturalistic observation: a method in which the researcher observes the subject in a natural setting without interfering. This type of research is often used in situations where conducting lab research is unrealistic, cost prohibitive or would unduly affect the subject's behavior. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKyrLFyOi04

Methods of Research: Naturalistic Observation Disadvantages: people may behave differently when they know they are being watched, different observers may draw different conclusions from the same witnessed behavior, and variables cannot be controlled.

Methods of Research: Case Studies Case study: a method that involves an intensive study or investigation of a person or group. The researcher provides a description of the behavior that comes from interviews and other sources, such as observation. The client also reports detail of events from his or her point of view.

Methods of Research: Case Studies The researcher then writes up the information from both sources as the case study, and interprets the information. A good case study should always make clear which information is factual description and which is inference or the opinion of the researcher.

Methods of Research: Surveys Survey: a research method in which information is obtained by asking large numbers of individuals a fixed set of questions about their attitudes, beliefs, and experiences. A survey may use interviews, questionnaires, or a combination of both to obtain data.

Methods of Research: Longitudinal Studies Longitudinal study: a method of research in which data are collected about a group of participants over a period of years to determine which their behavior or feelings have remained the same or changed. Disadvantages: time consuming, expensive, and/or participants may withdraw from the study.

Methods of Research: Cross-sectional Studies Cross-sectional study: a research method in which data are collected from groups of participants of different ages and compared so that conclusions can be drawn about differences due to age. These type of studies are less expensive and less time consuming.

Methods of Research: Correlation Studies Correlation study: a type of study during which researchers examine and measure the relationship between two variables or sets of data. A correlation describes the relationship between two things, but do not identify causes between them.

Methods of Research: Experiments Experiments: allow a researcher to control the situation and to decrease the possibility that unnoticed, outside variables will influence the results.

Methods of Research: Experiments An experiment is usually duplicated with different participants, because there may be hidden flaws the researcher is unaware of. Participants exposed to the independent variable are the experimental group. The control group is treated the same way as the experimental group, but are not exposed to the independent variable.

Steps of Psychological Experimental Research Ask a research question Form a hypothesis Determine variables Experiment (testing) Experiment group Control group Measure behavior of experimental and control group Compare measurements Interpret results and draw conclusions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSsPfbup0ac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZwfNs1pqG0

Ethical Issues Ethics are the methods of conduct or standards for proper and responsible behavior. The (APA) American Psychological Association published a set of ethical principles regarding the collection, storage, and use of psychological date.

Problems and Solutions in Research: Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Researchers must be wary of pitfalls that can trap him/her into mistakes when conducting experiments. One such pitfall is the self-fulfilling prophecy, a situation in which a researcher’s expectations influence that person’s own behavior, and thereby influence the participant’s behavior.

Problems and Solutions in Research: Avoiding a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy – Double Blind Technique Single-blind experiment- is an experiment in which the participants are “blind” or unaware of which participants received the treatment. Double-blind experiment- is an experiment in which neither the experimenter nor the participants know which participants received which treatment. By conducting this type of experiment the researcher can remain unbiased.

The Milgram Experiment Stanley Milgram wanted to determine whether participants would administer painful shocks to others because an authority figure instructed them to do so . He gathered 1000 participants The volunteers were paired with learners. The volunteer would shock the learner when the learner made a mistake . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f6LLV3fkXg

The Milgram Experiment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZwfNs1pqG0 The volunteers were told that with each mistake, the electrical shock would become stronger. The volunteers did not realize the shocks were fake. 65% of the volunteers pushed the shock button until it reached maximum severity. Proved that ordinary individuals could easily inflict pain if orders were given by a respected authority.

The Milgram Experiment Was an excellent example of a single-blind experiment. Swarthmore College conducted the same study. 88% of undergraduates administered the highest level of shock.

The Placebo Effect The placebo effect is a change in a participant’s illness or behavior that results from a belief that the treatment will have an effect rather than from the actual treatment. The placebo is some sort of treatment that resembles medical therapy, yet has no medical effects.

The Placebo Effect Psychiatric patients in two study groups were given a drug, after a six-week period the groups were evaluated: 53% to 80% reported they benefited from the drugs. The drugs administered were placebos. The people reacted to their own expectations of how the drug given would affect them. Neither the researchers or the patients knew they were placebos until after the experiment.