1. A 4 Step Process (Kind of…)
The Scientific Method
A 4 Step Process (Kind of…)

3. Step 1: Formulate a Hypothesis
= A specific prediction that can be empirically tested
Empirical =
Hypotheses contain variables that can be operationally defined!
Variable=
= Defines a variable in very specific terms as to how it will be measured, manipulated, or changed.
How many instances of violence?

4. Step 2: Design the Study & Collect Data
Decide what research method you will use for collecting data:
Methods= observing and describing behavior
Correlation
Methods= used to show that one variable causes change in a second variable
Causation

5. Step 3: Analyze the Data & Draw Conclusions
How do we take all of the data we collect and then make sense of it???
= mathematics that allow us to analyze, summarize, and draw conclusions
If the results are Statistically Significant, then it means that the results are not very likely to have occurred by
Statistical Significance means (usually) that the hypothesis was correct
Statistical Significance vs. Practical Significance
Ex: Statistically Significant = Suicide attempters had fewer years of education (12.7 years) as compared to non-attempters (14 years). Practically, that difference was not substantial enough to be clinically meaningful in helping identify those who pose a suicide risk.
= pooling the results of several studies into a single analysis, thereby revealing overall trends not evident in a single study!

6. Step 4: Report the Findings
Let the world know:
Who participated
How participants were selected
How variables were operationally defined
What procedures or methods were used
How the data were analyzed
What the results seem to suggest
WHY?!?!
Replication= Others can repeat the study to confirm or dispute the findings
More replications with identical results help hypotheses develop into theories
Tentative explanation that tries to account for diverse findings on the same topic