1. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
IB Psychology LAJM

2. Overview of psychological research process
(1) Research question
Formulating hypothesis (based on theory)
(2) Choice of methods
Who are being studied and by what methods?
(3) Implementing the research
Did the hypothesis get support or was it falsified?
(4) Conclusions
Did the research have an effect on the theory and/or practise?

3. TASK
In the previous lesson you were given a task to reflect about your topics of interest in psychology
Formulate a research question from you topic of interest
Formulate a hypothesis based on your topic of interest and your research question
You can use an existing psychological theory, create your own theory or just make a hypothesis

4. TASK Now you are about to start a research
You need participant, subjects
Read Crane 18–21
Find out what are the attributes of a good sample and what the different sampling methods mean
How can you get a representative sample to your research that has variability without being biased and so that the findings can be generalized?

5. Research designs
Researcher must choose a research design that best fits the aims and the nature of the study

6. 1. Experiment
Aims to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables
Manipulation of the independent variable influences the dependant variable

7. TASK Which one is independent variable and dependant variable?
Driving a car and being drunk
Rest and success in an examination
Noise and number of words recalled
Success in a task and number of repeats
Amount of light and the level of vitality

8. 1. Experiment
Variables need to be operationalized into measurable form

9. TASK How can these variables be operationalized?
Driving a car and being drunk
Rest and success in an examination
Noise and number of words recalled
Success in a task and number of repeats
Amount of light and the level of vitality

10. 1. Experiment Experimental hypothesis Null hypothesis
Predicts the IV to have an influence on DV
Null hypothesis
Predicts the IV to have NO influence on DV or the change in DV is due to chance

11. 1. Experiment Experimental group Control group
Participants who are exposed to the influence of the independent variable
Control group
Participants who have the same experimental setting, but WITHOUT the influence of the independent variable

12. 1. Experiment Repeated measures experiment Between groups experiment
Each participant is tested in each of the different conditions of the independent variable
Between groups experiment
There is a separate group of participants for each different condition of the independent variable
Matched pairs experiment
Every participant is matched with a pair in both experimental and control groups

13. 1. Experiment
Controlling the circumstances and the participants is vital in order to block the effect of undesired confounding variables

14. TASK
Try to construct an experimental setting around your research question and hypothesis
What could be the independent and the dependant variable in your experiment and how the variables could be operationalized?
What could be the experimental and null hypothesis in your experiment?
Try to think ways to block the undesired effects of confounding variables
Crane 28

15. 2. Correlational study
Observes or measures two or more existing variables to find relationships between them
CANNOT determine the cause-and-effect relationship

16. TASK
Try to apply correlational study to your research question and hypothesis
What kind of variables might have a relationship in your research?
What kind of correlation would this be?

17. 3. Descriptive study
Aims to describe phenomena without assessing relationships between different variables
prevalence of a feature within a population

18. TASK
Try to apply descriptive study to your research question and hypothesis
What kind of features would you like to be described?

19. 4. Case study Researches one case
E.g. an individual, a group of people or an event
Common in neuropsychology and abnormal psychology
Aims to understand and help individuals
Results are not generalizable

20. TASK What might be a case in your research question?
Try come up with examples

21. Research setting
After choosing a suitable research design, researcher must choose where the study is to be conducted

22. Research setting Laboratory study Field study
The study is conducted in a carefully controlled environment
Field study
The study is conducted in a natural environment

23. TASK
Which research setting is better for your research question and hypothesis?
Try to justify your choice between laboratory and field

24. Data-collecting method
After choosing a suitable research design and research setting, researcher must choose proper ways to gather information

25. TASK Read Crane 31–34 and Gray 38–40 (1) Questionnaire/ survey
Find out what the data-collecting methods on the right mean with possible subcategories
In addition, try to find out the pros and the cons of each method
(1) Questionnaire/ survey
(2) Introspection
(3) Test
(4) Observation
(5) Interview

26. TASK
Try to choose a proper data-collecting method or methods for your original research question and hypothesis

27. TASK
Classify the designs, settings and data-collection methods to quantitative and qualitative categories with the help of the next slide

30. TASK Read Crane 23 and Gray 47–48
Find out what validity and reliability mean with possible subcategories

31. CRANE 24 Good list for evaluating psychological research
Evaluating research
Validity and reliability are central concepts in evaluating psychological research
Methodological triangulation
Combining different research methods to validate the results of studies
CRANE 24 Good list for evaluating psychological research

32. Bias
Factor or factors that might skew the research results

33. Bias
Sampling bias
Sample is not representative of the target population
Cure: participant variability

34. Bias
Participant bias
Participants act according to the researches wishes
Cure: single blind setting

35. Bias Researches bias Researches acts differently towards participants
Cure: double blind setting

36. TASK
Compile a list of rules on how to treat participants in psychological research
How to treat participants ethically in psychological research?
Read Crane 21–22, 32–33 and 34
How were your ethical considerations different from those presented in the text book?
Consult the IB Psychology Guide for further reference

37. TASK For the last time, return to your original research question
Evaluate your tentative plans for your study from ethical perspective
Are your participants treated ethically?

38. Sources
Bjorklund, D. & Gray, P. (2014). Psychology (7th edition). New York: Worth Publishers.
Crane, J. & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology Course Companion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Paavilainen, P. (2012). Psykologian tutkimustyöopas. Helsinki: Edita.

39. Picture sources
Head < Accessed 16th of August 2017
X and Y < Accessed 11th of October 2015
Heart tree < Accessed 11th of October 2015
X, Y and Z < Accessed 11th of October 2015
Variable < Accessed 16th of August 2015
Correlation < Accessed 16th of August 2015
Group of people 1 < Accessed 16th of August 2015
Group of people 2 < Accessed 16th of August 2017
Phineas Gage < Accessed 17th of August 2017
Individual < Accessed 17th of August 2017
People in train < Accessed 18th of August
Laboratory < Accessed 17th of August 2017
Pile of folders < Accessed 18th of August
Data < Accessed 17th of August 2017
Reliability and validity < Accessed 17th of August 2017
Comparison of quantitative and qualitative research < Accessed 18th of August 2017
Quantitative and qualitative heads < Accessed 18th of August 2017
Quantitative and qualitative symbols < Accessed 22nd of August 2017
Bias < Accessed 22nd of August 2017
Sampling bias < Accessed 22nd of August 2017
Doulbe mild setting < Accessed 16th August 2015
Got Ethics? < Accessed 24th of August