1. Chapter 2 Psychological Research Methods and Statistics
Section 1
What is Research

2. Objectives
Describe the process of psychological research and scientific method
Name the different types of psychological research

3. Pre-Research Decisions
1. Ask a specific question about a limited topic or hypothesis.
2. Look for evidence
Sample- the small group of participants, out of the total population that psychologist study.
Must be representative of the population

4. Sample
Random Sample- everyone in the population has an equal chance of being represented
Studying shoppers- select every 10th shopper that walks by
Stratified Sample- all subgroups in the population are represented
School population– 45% Girls 55% Boys- this has to be represented in the sample

5. Methods of Research
Goals of Research – Describe, Explain, Predict and Influence Behavior
Researchers need to know how people and animals behave naturally ex. Jane Goodall
Naturalistic Observation- observing the subject in its natural setting without interfering.
Try to be as unobtrusive as possible, otherwise you may alter the subjects behavior.

6. Research Methods Case Studies- intense study of a person or group
Combine long-term studies with diaries, tests, and interviews.
Ex. Piaget studied his own children's cognitive development

7. Research Methods
Surveys- asking many individuals a fixed set of questions
Used to gather data on the attitudes, beliefs and experiences of large numbers of people.
Interviews, questionnaires or a combination
Interviews allow the researcher to observe the participant and modify questions
Questionnaires take less time and the answers are more uniform

8. Research Methods Longitudinal Studies
Studies the same group of people at regular intervals over a period of time.
To see in their beliefs/feelings have changed
Cross-Sectional
Groups studied on the basis of age
Tested, surveyed or observed
Faster and less expensive than longitudinal

9. Research Methods Correlations and Explanations
The measure of a relationship between two variables or sets of data
Positive Correlation- Data moves in the same direction
IQ and Grades: The higher the IQ the Higher the Grade, The lower the IQ the lower the Grade
Negative Correlation- Data moves in different directions
Days absent and Grade: absences go up grade goes down, absences go down grade goes up.

10. Experiments Allow the investigator to control the situation
Variables- conditions and behaviors that are subject to change
Independent Variable- the one experimenters change so they can observe its effects
Dependent Variable- changes in relation to the Independent variable.

11. Experiments
Experimental Group - Participants who are exposed to the independent variable
Control Group- Participants who are treated the same as the exp group but not exposed to the independent variable
Necessary in all experiments

12. Ethical Issues
Ethics- the methods of conduct or standards, for proper and responsible behavior
See list on p40-41