1. Interactive lecture ii Jolanta Babiak Winter semester 2018/2019
Using scientific methods to study human behavior and thinking processes
Interactive lecture ii
Jolanta Babiak
Winter semester 2018/2019

2. Scientific methods
Evidence about human behavior gathered by careful observation and measurement: empirical evidence
Empirical approach must be objective: not influenced by observer’s opinions or emotions (observer’s bias)
Research aims, e.g. to describe the effects of stress on memory
Research hypothesis: a statement e.g. The more stressed we are, the worse our memory will be
Directional eg. Eating pasta for dinner makes you sleep more (one-tailed hypothesis)
Non-directional eg. Eating pasta for dinner alters the amount you sleep (two- tailed hypothesis)

3. Scientific methods, cont.
Variables: something that is observed, measured, controlled or manipulated
Process of operationalizing variables: bringing them to being; putting them in the situation where they can be measured eg. Social class as annual family income; intelligence as performance on a standard IQ test
Sampling
Participants: people who take part in research
Sample: the selected participants from a population
Sample must be typical or representative of a population
Random sampling , opportunity sampling, volunteer sampling

4. Ethical considerations
Informed consent
Deception
Debriefing
Right to withdraw
Confidentiality
Protection

5. The reliability and validity of psychological research
Reliability: consistency
Anyone else using the the same method would get the same result
Replicability of the study and the results
Validity: extent to which a test measures what is is intended to measure

6. Methods and techniques
The laboratory experiment
Used to uncover causal relationships
Involves manipulating and controlling variables
The field experiment
Conducted in natural environment
Observational methods
Participant observation
Non-participant observation

7. Methods and techniques, cont.
Content analysis: analyzing the content of text, television programs, speeches
Self-report techniques
Questionnaires
Interviews: structured, semi-structure and unstructured interview
Correlational analysis
Shows whether or not two variables are associated (not a causal relationship)
Positive correlation r = 1,0
Negative correlation r = - 1,0
Zero correlation r = 0,0
Case study

8. Quantitative and qualitative research
Quantitative research:
getting numerical data
Involves measuring something in some way
Utilizes statistical techniques to analyze and interpret it
Qualitative research:
describes events using words instead of numbers
Takes a point of view of the participant
Is less controlled and structured compared to quantitative research
Can be difficult and involving hard work to analyze

9. Ten-Item Personality Inventory-(TIPI)
Strongly disagree: 1; disagree moderately: 2; disagree a little: 3; neither agree nor disagree: 4; agree a little: 5; agree moderately: 6; agree strongly
I see myself as:
1 _____ Extraverted, enthusiastic.
2 _____ Critical, quarrelsome.
3 _____ Dependable, self-disciplined.
4 _____ Anxious, easily upset.
5 _____ Open to new experiences, complex.
6 _____ Reserved, quiet.
7 _____ Sympathetic, warm.
8 _____ Disorganized, careless.
9 _____ Calm, emotionally stable.
10 _____ Conventional, uncreative.

10. TIPI scale scoring (“R” denotes reverse-scored items):
Extraversion: 1, 6R;
Agreeableness: 2R, 7;
Conscientiousness; 3, 8R;
Emotional Stability: 4R, 9;
Openness to Experiences: 5, 10R.