Methods & Ethics 1.2

My Questions: Methods & Ethics Describe two methods used by psychologists when studying the behavior of people or animals. What is the difference between the observer effect and observer bias? What is the difference between correlation and causation? Why do many psychologists argue that experimentation on animals is necessary?

Methods Used To Study Behavior The best way to observe human and animal behavior is by watching them behave in their normal environment. This research strategy is called naturalistic observation. Researchers might observe people at work, home or even on the playground.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Why do psychologists sometimes use one-way mirrors to observe the behaviors of people?

Jane Goodall Jane Goodall, now 78, became the foremost expert on chimpanzees by partaking in naturalistic observation in the apes’ environment. Video Clip: /in-the-field-specials/jane-goodall-retrospective/ /in-the-field-specials/jane-goodall-retrospective/ Food for Thought during the video clip: What might be a problem with Jane Goodall’s research methods?

Problems with Naturalistic Observations The Observer Effect: People may behave differently when they know they are being watched. The Observer Bias: When the researcher or observer tends to see what they want to see Also, conditions are usually unique to the time and place. Example: How would you act differently at your friend’s house if it was the first day of summer vacation? Or if your pet just died?

Other Research Methods Laboratory Method: A method of conducting research in a controlled environment. Case Study: A study of one individual, usually over a long period of time that results in great detail. Survey Method: A method of conducting research in the form of interviews.

Advantages & Disadvantages of the Survey Method Advantages: 1) Find out about private behavior, 2) can be conducted on the telephone or over the internet, and 3) can quickly research hundreds of people Disadvantages: 1) People can lie, and 2) survey results can be skewed if the wrong people are interviewed.

Correlation Method Correlation Method: Method that measures the relationships between two variables. A variable is anything that can change like the temperature, test grades, or how many glasses of Pepsi you drink. One prime example of the correlation method is how scientists have linked cigarette smoking to life expectancy. They have found through medical records that the more cigarettes smoked by a person the number of years lived on average declined.

Correlation Does Not Equal Causation! Researchers cannot just assume that because there is a correlation between two variables that it is the cause for what is occurring. For instance, researchers in the past when studying crime found that when ice cream sales rose so did violent crime. Therefore, they claimed incorrectly that increased ice cream consumption caused more violence. Can you explain this correlation between ice cream and violence?

Experimental Method Experimental Method: Method in which researchers change or manipulate the variable that is causing some behavior to determine some cause- effect relationship. Example: Drinking pop at lunch causes students to be hyper after lunch.

Experimental Method Continued The independent variable in an experiment is the variable that is changed or manipulated, like the number of pops students drink. The dependent variable in an experiment is the response of the individuals to the independent variable, in this case students became less hyper after drinking less pop.

Experiments with Animals Performing experiments on animals is controversial, but many researchers would argue that it is essential. Animals are used in dangerous experiments so that humans do not have to suffer bad side-effects. However, experimentation on animals has led to knowledge of the cancerous effects of tobacco, vaccines for deadly diseases, and the successful development of transplant procedures. Food for Thought: Do you think animals should be used in experiments?

Ethical Guidelines for Research on Humans To make sure that ethical standards are maintained during experiments with humans, psychologists at a minimum must follow these guidelines: 1) Humanitarian: Rights and well-being of participants must be weighed against the study’s value to science. In other words, people come first, research second. 2) Informed Consent: Participants must be allowed to make informed decisions about their participation. Researchers must inform the participants what the study is for.

Ethical Guidelines Continued 3) Justification: In cases where deception is necessary, deception must be justified and participants must be told after the study why the deception was needed. 4) Right to Withdraw: Participants can withdraw at any time for any reason. 5) Risks: Participants must be protected from risks or told about risks.

Ethical Guidelines Continued 6) Debriefing: Investigators must debrief participants, telling the true nature of the study and expectations of results. 7) Confidentiality: Data must remain confidential so that it cannot be traced back to a single individual.