1. Psych 231: Research Methods in Psychology
Class Experiment
Psych 231: Research Methods in Psychology

2. Today going to go over the design and procedures for the class experiment.
Make sure that you download the experiment packet and test your participants this weekend
Class experiment

3. Memory Demonstration Instructions (1/2 the class):
I’m going to read a list of words.
Please listen to each word on the list. After each word I’d like you to respond ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ whether the word has a letter ‘A’ in it
After I’m done, please count backwards (aloud) by threes from the number that I give you.
Then I’ll tell you to write down as many of the words as you can. Any questions?
Memory Demonstration

4. Memory Demonstration Instructions (the other 1/2 of the class):
I’m going to read a list of words.
Please listen to each word on the list. After each word I’d like you to respond ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ whether the word is something that you associate with your experience at Illinois State University
After I’m done, please count backwards (aloud) by threes from the number that I give you.
Then I’ll tell you to write down as many of the words as you can. Any questions?
Read list
537
Memory Demonstration

5. Recall Please recall as many of the items now (write them down).
We’ll check these in a few mins.
Recall

6. Recall Please recall as many of the items now (write them down).
Check:
apple interest theory ocean pencil
moral microscope anger chance baby
car
hammer
fate happiness book
effort
bird
money
hope knowledge
Recall

7. What variables might influence performance on a memory task like this?
We’ll select two things:
Type of word - abstract or concrete
Level of processing - how “deeply” the words are processed
The issues

8. What variables might influence performance on a memory task like this?
We’ll select two things:
Type of word - abstract or concrete
Level of processing - how “deeply” the words are processed
The issues

9. Word type apple interest theory ocean pencil
moral microscope anger chance baby
car hammer fate happiness book
effort bird money hope knowledge
Word type

10. Go ahead and count up how many abstract and how many concrete words you remembered.
apple interest theory ocean pencil
moral microscope anger chance baby
car
hammer
fate happiness book
effort
bird
money
hope knowledge
Concrete words
Abstract words
Word type

11. What variables might influence performance on a memory task like this?
We’ll select two things:
Type of word - abstract or concrete
Level of processing - how “deeply” the words are processed
The issues

12. Levels of processing Two levels of processing: Shallow:
Is there an “a”
Deep:
Related to ISU
BOOK
CAR
DESK
DRESSER
FLOWER
MAGAZINE
happiness
happiness
Levels of processing

13. The issues What are the issues that we’re looking at?
What is the Dependent variable?
Construct?
Operationalized?
What is/are the Independent variable(s)?
Word type
Op: words rated as abstract or concrete
Level of processing
Op: Shallow processing: “does word have an ‘a’ in it?”
Deep processing: “is the word related to ISU experience?”
memory
accurate recall of words from list
The issues

14. The design How many conditions do we have?
What is the design of the study?
2 factors
Level of processing
“a” in it
ISU related
Abstract
Word type
Concrete
What are your predictions?
The design

15. I have put the materials together and posted them on the syllabus (click on “class experiment”)
Your homework is to
Download “Exp packet”
Find two volunteers
Collect some data
Bring the data back to class on Monday I will compile and analyze the results
You will go over the summarized results in labs
Based on this experiment and these results you will produce an APA style research report
Class experiment

16. Class experiment In the packet you’ll find: Instructions
To create the stimuli
To read to your participants
For compiling the data (data sheet provided)
Two consent forms
Debriefing sheet
Class experiment

17. The Procedure Find 2 volunteers
Test each participant (one-at-a-time, in one of the conditions)
Following presentation of the word list
Have them count backwards by 3s for 15 sec.
Ask them to recall as many of the words as they can (have them write them down)
Shuffle the word order (the cards) before each participant
Count up the number of correctly recalled abstract and concrete words and enter this information into the data summary sheet
Bring the data back to class on Monday
The Procedure

18. The design What do we need to control?
Presentation rate
Amount of time for recall
Number of items on the list
Actual items on the list
Any other things we need to think about?
Ethics
Consent form, debriefing
I have create these and they are part of the experiment packet that you download
1 second per item
90 seconds
20 items
Same concrete and abstract words
The design

19. The class paper Complete APA style research report
Intro
There are 3 required readings which you must include these in your introduction
Kroll & Merves (1986)
Craik & Tulving (1975)
Groninger & Groninger (1982)
Additionally, you must find at least 1 additional article to include in your introduction
Methods, Results, Discussion, References, etc.
Two drafts (see web pages for specific details)
1st: due week 9
Final: due week 15
The class paper