1. The research process
Bailey Ch: 1
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

2. PSYC/SOCI 201
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3. The Research Process Step 1: Find a research idea
Selecting general topic, reviewing the literature (previous research)
Step 2: Convert your research idea into a specific research hypothesis
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4. Step 1: Research Ideas
I wonder……
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

5. Find a research idea Research is often driven by curiosity.
Continuum of the development of research ideas
Informal
Formal
“This is interesting. I’d like to know more.”
“We understand some things, but there are still questions.”
“We’ve got a problem to solve.”
“The theory says X. Let’s test the theory.”
“Here [is] a first principle not formally recognized by scientific methodologists: When you run onto something interesting, drop everything else and study it.” (B. F. Skinner, 1956)
Where do ideas come from?
We typically study things that we’re interested in.
PSYC/SOCI 201
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

6. Where do ideas come from?
Glueck & Jauck (1975)
Examined where researchers tend to get their research ideas
Self
Literature
Colleagues
% of time get ideas from various sources
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7. Idea origins Common Sense Observation Identify a problem
Ask the Experts
Past research – find out what research has already been done and ask yourself “what don’t we know still” (or perhaps better “what do we NEED to know that we don’t already know)
follow-up studies, expanding the past research in more detail or new directions
improvements on past research studies, maybe you think the past research had some serious flaws or limitations
Pavlov was working on dog digestive systems. Noticed dogs salivated when put into their harnesses prior to being fed. This observation and the subsequent work led to groundbreaking work in how animal (including humans) learn - classical conditioning
PSYC/SOCI 201
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

8. Step 2: Convert your research idea into a specific research hypothesis
if… then
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

9. The Initial Idea The initial idea is the starting point
I am interested in the effects of television on children
The initial idea is the starting point
Often vague or general, it requires refining before research hypotheses can be generated
PSYC/SOCI 201
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

10. The Initial Idea The initial idea is the starting point
Refinement of the initial idea is based on
(1) a search of relevant research literature
(2) initial observations of the phenomenon
Want to narrow and formalize the initial idea into a statement of the problem
The initial idea is the starting point
Often vague or general, it requires refining before research hypotheses can be generated
PSYC/SOCI 201
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

11. From Statement of the Problem to Hypothesis
In the form of a question that clearly indicates an expected relationship
Next step is to convert your research idea into a research hypothesis (es) by operationally defining the variables
Watching cartoons with violent content will be positively associated with aggresive behavior of children towards his/her peers.
The nature of the question + resources available will dictate the research design yo be used.
Causal questions will require experimental research
Questions about relationships can be answered with correlational research.
PSYC/SOCI 201
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

12. Statement of the Problem
Variable: a characteristic or property that can vary
Height, weight, age, self-esteem, social class, income, inequality, race/ethnicity, parenting style...
In our hypothesis, our variables are:
Watching cartoons with violent content
Depiction of aggresive behavior
PSYC/SOCI 201
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

13. From research idea to hypothesis
Hypothesis:A statement that provides a tentative description or explanation for the relationship between variables.
An objective extension of the question that was originally posed
A belief or prediction of the eventual outcome of the research
Scientific research tests specific hypotheses
Generated from the initial research idea through a series of steps (Figure 8.1, page 179)
DEFINITION:
a declarative statement of relation btwn 2 or more variables.
Should be precise – unambigious and testable (collect data to confirm or disconfirm) predicts a relation.
a statement of how variables are expected to be related to one another
A concrete, specific statement about the relationships between phenomena
States clearly the expected relationship between the variables
The form is a declarative statement, but it is a tentative statement to be tested in research
Implicitly or explicitly, the variables in the research hypothesis are stated in operational definition terms
Not all questions are answerable **** have to be testable… more on bad and good hyp. Next time.
PSYC/SOCI 201
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

14. The process of designing a research
RESEARCH QUESTION
WHY IS MY
RESEARCH
IMPORTANT?
WHAT HAVE OTHER
RESEARCHERS DONE?
WHAT HAVE THEY
FOUND?
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
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15. What have others done? Why do a review of the literature?
Getting ideas, finding out what has/hasn’t been done, avoid past mistakes, etc.
What is the literature?
Primary and secondary sources
Conferences
How do you search the literature?
Journal Articles
What happens when a researcher finishes a study? They share it in a detailed report that
provides such information as a literature review (used as a basis to inform the new research), methods, sampling procedures, results, and a discussion.
These results are shared through conferences and scholarly journals. Every academic field has professional journals that publish the results of researchers.
Journals only accept a fraction of the articles submitted to them. Generally the more prestigious the journal the fewer articles accepted since everyone wants to get published in them. Rates of acceptance are usually available from the publisher or other sources.
Most journals are refereed. They use a panel of experts on specialized subjects within the discipline to scrutinize the work that is submitted without knowing who wrote the original article.
These are the type of journals you are expected to peruse for your literature review in preparation for your final paper.
Various disciplines have national and even international conferences.
At these conferences researchers come together to present the findings of their research.
Conference proceedings are often published.
Conferences are one way that information is shared.
PSYC/SOCI 201
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

16. Previous research on the effects of TV on children
Factors investigated:
Age of the child, degree of violance in the programs, stage of the child’s cognitive growth, mother’s interactions with the child, emotional arousal, content of the program…
What has not been investigated ? (at least as much)
What will contribute to the understanding of the question I am asking
is available for me to investigate ….
PSYC/SOCI 201
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007

17. Then the hypothesis becomes
Boys who view aggressive acts during prime time cartoon shows are more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors…
PSYC/SOCI 201
PSYC/SOCI 201 Spring 2007