1. Unit 2 (M6): Experimental Research Designs
Ms. Saint-Paul
A.P. Psychology

2. Chapter 2 (D): Problems and Solutions in Research

3. Problems in Experimental Research
What types of problems do you think psychological researchers may encounter when conducting experimental research?

4. Problems in Experimental Research
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy( Experimenter Bias):
Researcher’s expectations influence his/her own behavior, and thereby influence the participant’s behavior
(e.g. thinking a subject will respond in a certain way, and unassumingly acting in a manner that will cause the subject to then do so)

5. Problems in Experimental Research
Have you ever experienced a “self-fulfilling prophecy?”

6. Problems in Experimental Research
Placebo Effect:
A change in a participant’s behavior that results from a belief that the treatment will have an effect, rather than the actual treatment (e.g. participant thinks he/she is receiving “Red Bull,” but instead receives non-caffeinated soda, and still “feels energized”)

7. Solutions in Experimental Research
How can psychological researchers avoid self- fulfilling prophecies and placebo effects when conducting experimental research?

8. Solutions in Experimental Research
Single-Blind Procedure:
Participants are unaware of which participants received the treatment (e.g. participants do not know which participants received “Red Bull”)
Double-Blind Procedure:
Participants and experimenter(s) are unaware of which participants received the treatment (e.g. participants and experimenter(s) do not know which participants received “Red Bull”)

9. Chapter 2 (E): Ethics in Psychological Research

10. Ethics in Psychological Research
The methods of conduct/standards for proper and responsible behavior among psychological researchers
Published by the American Psychological Association (A.P.A.) in 1992

11. Ethics in Psychological Research
Ethical Principles in Psychology (A.P.A.):
Informed Consent must be obtained
Information about participants must be treated confidentially
Protection against physical/psychological harm
Limited deception; only if absolutely necessary
Participants must be debriefed afterward
Research proposals must first be screened by Institutional Review Board (I.R.B.)

12. What is a self-fulfilling prophecy in psychological research?
Review
What is a self-fulfilling prophecy in psychological research?
What is a placebo effect?
Identify two ways in which researchers can avoid a self-fulfilling prophecy on behalf of the researcher(s) and participant(s)?

13. Unethical Experiments

14. Reminders
Research Project
Unit 2 Test: “Research Methods”
Chapter 3: Notes