1. In your Interactive Notebook: Unit.Lesson 1.3 Experimental Research
Lesson ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
­­­How do psychologists design and perform scientifically valid experiments?
DAILY COMMENTARY
Complete in google classroom:
You are designing a survey for HS Football coaches to learn about concussion protocols. Write one question for the survey now.
Today’s Goals:
I can correctly distinguish between dependent and independent variables
Today’s Plan:
Readings for this Lesson: Myers 36-39
Due this Lesson
PT 1.3
Readings for NEXT Lesson: Myers 39-44
Due NEXT Lesson
PT 1.3 (includes lesson 4 & 5 content)
Review Packet Due: 9/19
UNIT TEST: 9/21

2. Performance Task 1.3:
In groups of three, develop a psychological hypothesis and design a scientifically valid experiment to test it. An example hypothesis could be: “third graders who wear purple socks are more likely to blow their noses than other students.” Experiments should include a narrative section that:
Establishes a clear relationship between and understanding of dependent & independent variable
Describes an experiment designed to produce scientifically valid results by applying and clearly describing the relevance of at least three controls. These may include: operational definitions; random assignment, placebo, double-blind procedure; Hawthorne Effect;
Explains how experiment data / results will be presented using descriptive statistics & provides visual example showing (fictionalized) results of experiment
Demonstrates an understanding of ethical factors influencing research methods

3. Survey
Population
The total # of people in the world that could take the survey.
For example, if the survey seeks to understand the behaviors of people trying to quit smoking, the population would be EVERY smoker in the world

4. PT 1.2 – Survey Design
Read the article (linked in classroom) about survey questionnaires.
Use the links to the right to learn about different types of survey questions & survey design.
Review the rubric for PT 1.2, & complete it:
work with a partner to develop five survey questions on a topic of your choice (or assigned topic).
Submit, along with your survey questions, a memo explaining why the research being conducted lends itself to survey research and the considerations that went into the survey construction, as well as instructions for how to administer the survey in a scientifically valid manner.

5. Survey Review & Assignment
Share out some of your survey questions
What controls must be in place for a survey to be valid?

6. Exploring Cause and Effect
Experimentation
Exploring Cause and Effect
Like other sciences, experimentation is the backbone of psychology research. Experiments isolate causes and their effects.
OBJECTIVE 12| Explain how experiments help researchers isolate cause and effect.
Psychology 7e in Modules

7. A summary of steps during experimentation.

8. Exploring Cause & Effect
Many factors influence our behavior. Experiments (1) manipulate factors that interest us, while other factors are kept under (2) control.
Effects generated by manipulated factors isolate cause and effect relationships.

9. Independent Variable
An Independent Variable is a factor manipulated by the experimenter. The effect of the independent variable is the focus of the study.
For example, when examining the effects of breast feeding upon intelligence, breast feeding is the independent variable.
OBJECTIVE 14| Explain the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable.
Psychology 7e in Modules

10. Dependent Variable
A Dependent Variable is a factor that may change in response to an independent variable. In psychology, it is usually a behavior or a mental process.
For example, in our study on the effect of breast feeding upon intelligence, intelligence is the dependent variable.

11. Controls on Experiments
Double-blind Procedure
In evaluating drug therapies, patients and experimenter’s assistants should remain unaware of which patients had the real treatment and which patients had the placebo treatment.
OBJECTIVE 13| Explain why random assignment and double-blind procedure build confidence in research findings.
Psychology 7e in Modules

12. Controls on Experiments
Random Assignment
Assigning participants to experimental (Breast-fed) and control (formula-fed) conditions by random assignment minimizes pre-existing differences between the two groups.
Sometime research participants out of enthusiasm or personal beliefs can affect the out come of an experiment. To control for such affects, a double-blind procedure is used, in which the participants and the experimenter’s assistants are not aware of which participants got real treatment and who got placebo.
Psychology 7e in Modules

13. Controls on Expermients
Operational Definitions
Required for replication
Involve numbers and must be quantifiable
Weight
Dosage
Decibel
Etc.

14. Evaluating the Reliability of Experiments
Confounding variables
Unpredictable (or unexpected) factors that may skew the results
A heart rate study in which one subject was nearly hit by a car on the way to the lab
Early “studies” of intelligence found correlations between race and intelligence
Did not consider educational background, history of oppression, etc.
Replication – can someone else re-create the study and get similar results?

15. Pick up Monday

16. In your Interactive Notebook: Unit.Lesson 1.3 Experimental Research
Lesson ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
­­­How do psychologists design and perform scientifically valid experiments?
DAILY COMMENTARY
Complete in google classroom:
Today’s Goals:
I can correctly distinguish between dependent and independent variables
Today’s Plan:
Experiment Analsys
Intro to Free Response Questions
Readings for this Lesson: Myers 36-39
Due this Lesson
PT 1.3
Readings for NEXT Lesson: Myers 39-44
Due NEXT Lesson
PT 1.3 (includes lesson 4 & 5 content)
Review Packet Due: 9/19
UNIT TEST: 9/21

17. Evaluating the Reliability of Experiments
Hawthorne Effect – people behave differently when they know that they are being studied

18. Independent Practice
SpongeBob activity
(take out handout from Friday)

19. Experiment Analysis Read each experiment description Identify the:
Hypothesis
Independent varaiable
Dependent variable
Control group
Experiment group
Design flaws in the experiment

20. Performance Task 1.3 Design your own experiment
Work in groups (may have one group of 2)
Be creative (you are designing but not actually performing the experiment)
BE SURE TO INCLUDE
Hypothesis
Control group & experiment group
Dependent & independent variables
Discuss a potentially confounding variable
Be specific about 3 controls on the experiment
Explain how you would represent your results statistically
Group with the most creative experiment gets 3 bonus points on our first exam

22. Structure of the AP Psych Exam
2 hour exam
70 minutes to answer 100 multiple choice (MC) questions
50 minutes to answer two free response questions (FRQ)

23. AP Exam Grading Formula
2/3 of grade based on Multiple Choice
1/3 of grade based on FRQ
Composite score is based on 150 points
1 point for each correct MC question
50 points based on FRQ
FRQ points earned times 3.125
(usually there are 16 points available on the FRQ section, so multiply each point you earn times 3.125; 16x3.125=50
Add MC points to FRQ points

24. Grading the AP Exam
Composite scores are broken down into ranges to assign 1-5 scores. It is different each year, but here is one example of the score ranges from 2007
5: (outstanding!!!)
4: (my minimum standard for you)
3: (accepted by some—not all—colleges)
2: 65-76
1: 0-64

25. How to Answer a Psych FRQ
Read the prompt twice.
Identify the number of points available.
Plan out how to earn each available point.
Write in complete sentences. The grader will not read it and you will score a zero if you don’t.
Name and apply each required term in the prompt.
When responding to each section of the prompt, make sure the reader knows that you are doing so by restating that part of the prompt.
Simple definitions will not score.
You must provide examples that illustrate your understanding of the term.
Move on. This is not an english or history essay. This is pinball
Once you feel you have earned a point, stop explaining that concept and move on. You cannot earn a point twice.

26. FRQs in our class Treat them like an AP style FRQ
This is a writing process grade
You will improve and get faster with time.
The key is to KNOW YOUR VOCABULARY so that you can apply it.

27. PRACTICE FRQ
Dr. Green is interested in studying what causes individuals to have distinct preferences in the type of music they listen to. Write a short memo for Dr. Green in which you consider the strengths and/or weaknesses of each research type listed below; then make a recommendation of which you think would be most effective.
Naturalistic observation
Survey
Case study
Cross sectional study
Longitudinal study
Experiment
In addition, your memo should include a note that:
Defines and explains the importance of one control on experiments
Describes the Hawthorne Effect and indicates why Dr. Green should be wary of it

28. FRQ Analysis How many points are there?
What does the prompt ask you to do?
What do you have to do to earn the first 6 points?
What do you have to do to earn the last two points?

29. FRQ Review
If you think you earned the point, read your response for that section.
WHOLE CLASS: As soon as they have earned the point, yell “BANG!”
RUBRIC: NO S CS
C-SS LS E C HE

30. Exit Pass How did you feel about the FRQ?
How is the class going so far? Have you had any trouble keeping up with reading assignments?

31. DQ’S, Updates & Reminders
BIG PICTURE
Friday Quizzes
September 12
Projects Due
Survey Questions: 9/9
Experiment Project: 9/11
Unit Exam:
Tues, Sept 16
Today:
DC & Discussion
Experiment Design
Free Response Question
Tonight’s Homework:
RJ 1.6
Griggs & 20-26
or Myers & 39-44
Continue thinking about & working on your project

34. How do psychologists conduct reliable and ethical research?
In your Interactive Notebook: Unit.Day 1.8 Experiment Projects & Exam Review
Unit 1 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: What is (and isn’t) Psychology?
How do psychologists conduct reliable and ethical research?
Daily Commentary
Describe the difference between a random sample and random assignment?
Calculate the standard deviation for the following quiz scores: 9, 7, 5, 8, 7
TURN IN:
Any late work
Make sure your vocab cards are ready for tomorrow
ON YOUR DESK: 1) reading journal
2) Daily commentary notebook
3) Materials for your experiment presentation
Today’s OBJECTIVE(S) -- WRITE THESE DOWN:
I can define the criteria of an ethical experiment

35. Exam Format Timed test: 35 Questions in 30 minutes.
This is more time than you will have per question on the AP exam.
Your second exam will match the timing you will have on the AP exam.
The unit 2 exam will have 50 MC questions and you will have 35 minutes.
1 Free Response Question (25 minutes)

36. DQ’S, Updates & Reminders
BIG PICTURE
Friday Quizzes
today & September 6
Projects Due
Thursday, September 5th
Experiment Project
Unit Exam:
Monday, September 9th
Today:
Discussion of Experiments
PsychSim5 Review Modules
Review game
Tonight’s Homework:
Prepare for exam.
Make sure your vocab cards are finished and that you KNOW AND CAN APPLY your vocab.

37. Presenting your Experiments
All group members come to the front
Describe the experiment
Keep it under 3 minutes, if possible.
RUBRIC:
Hypothesis
Control Group IV DV CV C1 C2 C3
Statistics
Each student presents
Overall experiment design is sound 2 3 4

38. Use PsychSim modules to review
Google search: psychsim5
Choose from these modules:
Correlation
What’s Wrong with This Study
Only if time
Psychology’s Timeline
Take another look at Descriptive Statistics

39. Major Experiments
Milgram’s Obedience Study (1964)
What was it?

40. Major Experiments Ken & Mamie Clark (1939-1940)
Racial attitudes, beauty, & self perception
Asked white and black children their preferences among white and black dolls
Cited in Brown v. Board ruling by Supreme Court

41. Major Experiments Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment
Monkey see, monkey do

42. Masters & Johnson
Research on sexual motivation and the sexual response cycle
Highly controversial; observed individuals in the act of sex and measured their physiological responses

43. Review Game: Taboo Two Teams: Each team has an actor/drawer/performer
I will assign a term, and each performer must get their team to say that term by acting it out or drawing a diagram