1. It is actually way more exciting than it sounds!!!!
Research Methods
It is actually way more exciting than it sounds!!!!

2. Hypothesis Expresses a relationship between two variables.
A variable is anything that can vary among participants in a study.
Participating in class leads to better grades than not participating.

3. IF Independent Variable
Whatever is being manipulated in the experiment.
Hopefully the independent variable brings about change.
If there is a drug in an experiment, the drug is almost always the independent variable. IF

4. THAN Dependent Variable Whatever is being measured in the experiment.
It is dependent on the independent variable.
The dependent variable would be the effect of the drug.
THAN

5. Hypothesis IF
THAN
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable

6. Sampling Identify the population you want to study.
The sample must be representative of the population you want to study.
Get a random sample.
Construct a sample

7. Experimental Method Looking to prove causal relationships.
Cause = Effect
Laboratory v. Field Experiments
Smoking causes health issues.

8. Random Assignment
Once you have a random sample, randomly assigning them into two groups helps control for confounding variables.
Experimental Group v. Control Group.
Group Matching

9. Hawthorne Effect But even the control group may experience changes.
Just the fact that you know you are in an experiment can cause change.
Whether the lights were brighter or dimmer, production went up in the Hawthorne electric plant.

10. Experimenter Bias Another confounding variable. Not a conscious act.
Double-Blind Procedure.

11. Other Confounding Variables
Placebo effect

12. Correlational Method
Correlation expresses a relationship between two variable.
Does not show causation.
As more ice cream is eaten, more people are murdered.
Does ice cream cause murder, or murder cause people to eat ice cream?

13. Types of Correlation Negative Correlation Positive Correlation
The variables go in opposite directions.
Positive Correlation
The variables go in the SAME direction.
Studying and grades hopefully has a positive correlation.
Heroin use and grades probably has a negative correlation.

14. Survey Method Most common type of study in psychology
Measures correlation
Cheap and fast
Need a good random sample
Low-response rate

15. Naturalistic Observation
Watch subjects in their natural environment.
Do not manipulate the environment.
The good is that there is Hawthorne effect.
The bad is that we can never really show cause and effect.

16. Interview Ask subjects questions EXAMPLE: Tell me about yourself.
What are your personal strengths and weaknesses? What have you done to deal with your shortcomings?

17. Case Studies Watch one person for a long period of time
Example case study outline
1. Background Information
2. Description of the Presenting Problem
3. Your Diagnosis
Intervention
1. Psychoanalytic Approach?
2. Cognitive-Behavioral Approach?
3. Humanistic Approach?

18. Psychological Test
Quiz or test with a fixed number of questions and “correct” answers
Like an IQ test
Gives accurate, objective information-there is little chance of distorting results.
Does NOT test the whole subject

19. Longitudinal Method
This observational research technique involves studying the same group of individuals over an extended period of time.
it allows researchers to look at changes over time. Because of this, longitudinal methods are particularly useful when studying development and lifespan issues

20. Cross-Sectional Method
Like a longitudinal study, but looking at all of the age groups at once
This allows researchers to spend less money, and complete the study quickly
DOES not use the same group over a long period---Uses sample subjects or groups from several age ranges
Cross-Sectional Method