1. Selecting a Topic & Reviewing the Literature

2. Conducting a literature search
How to do a literature search
Pick a database to start your search
Acceptable databases:
PsycINFO*
PsycARTICLES
PubMed
ERIC
To access PsycINFO from the Caldwell College library website:
Go to the college’s library website:
Click on Databases by subject
Click on Psychology
Select PsycINFO or PsycARTICLES

3. Structure of a Journal Article
Research articles are written in the shape of an hourglass:
broad general statements (introduction)
narrower specifics about the study (methods and results)
broadens out again to more general issues and considerations (discussion)
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
Go through the next 8 slides only if there is time.
Otherwise, just go over the sheet on Evaluating Research
Tell students that these are the questions they should ask when they evaluate articles for the papers they have to do for this course (and other courses).

4. Abstract About 120 words Essence of the study Hypothesis IV and DV
A brief description of procedure
Key results
Implications of the results for the hypothesis or for competing theories

5. Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of collaboration on individual memory. In Experiment 1, pictures and words were presented at study. After a 1 hour delay, participants performed a recognition memory test individually (noncollaborative condition) or following discussion in groups of 3 (collaborative condition). Collaboration significantly increased subsequent individual recognition. In addition, the picture superiority effect commonly observed in individual recognition was replicated in individual memory and also observed in collaborative memory. The goal of Experiment 2 was to replicate the effect of collaboration and to assess its influence on individual memory across time. Collaboration once again increased individual memory, and this improvement was observed both at 1hour and 48 hour delays.

6. Introduction Introduces the problem Why is the problem important?
Develops the background
Discusses other research relevant to the problem, but does not necessarily provide exhaustive literature review.
States the purpose and rationale for the study
Defines the formal hypotheses and links these hypotheses to the previous background literature presented.

7. Methods Describes in detail how the study was conducted. Subsections:
Participants:
Materials:
Design:
Independent variable and its levels (within/between- subjects)
Dependent variable
Operational definitions IV and DV when necessary
Procedure:
Operational definitions: defining the IV, DV and EX in terms of the operations needed to produce them.
DV: motivation: increased heart rate, # of responses,
self-esteem: results on a self-esteem test
depressed mood: score below 10 on the Beck Depression Inventory

8. Results
Summarizes the data collected and the statistical analyses used.
Individual scores are NOT reported (except in single-case experiments).
Tables and figures are referenced.
Implications of the results are NOT discussed here.

9. Discussion
This section provides your evaluation and interpretation of the implications of the results and how they relate to your initial hypotheses.
How are your findings related to other findings in the field?
What are the implications for future research or practice?

10. References
All references cited in the manuscript are listed in alphabetical order at the conclusion of the manuscript.
Avoids plagiarism
Assures accountability and peer review

11. References
Basden, B. H., Basden, D. R., Bryner, S., & Thomas, R. L. III (1997). A comparison of group and individual
remembering: Does group participation disrupt retrieval? Journal of Experimental Psychology:
Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 23,
Clark, S. E., Hori, A., Putnam, A., & Martin, T. P. (2000). Group collaboration in recognition memory.
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 26,
Gardiner, J. M. (1988). Functional aspects of recollective experience. Memory & Cognition,16,
Meade, M. L. & Roediger, H. L. III (2002). Explorations in the social contagion of memory.
Memory & Cognition, 30,
Reysen, M. B. (2005). The effects of conformity on recognition judgments. Memory, 13,

12. Ethics Questions to keep in mind when running a study:
Are we putting our participants at risk?
Is our experimental treatment harmful?
Do the benefits outweigh the costs of the research?
Real cases of violation of ethics:
The medical atrocities of World War II
The Tuskegee syphilis project ( )
Stanley Milgram’s obedience studies of the 1960’s
Suppose I were a crazy scientist and I wanted to run an experiment on the effects of toxic gas on humans. The results would be used for the military to prepare soldiers for combat. Knowing which gases are toxic, how long the effects last and how we can find antidotes to the effects of the toxins will save lives of many innocent people who get hit with biological warfare, as well as the lives of soldiers.
What do you think of this study?
Are there any problems with it?
Do you agree or disagree?
Do the benefits outweigh the costs?
WWII – Nazi did experiments on humans
Tuskegee- did not treat patients with syphilis although patients were told they were going to receive treatment. Some 400 people died by the time the study was shut down
Milgram – study about obedience. Participants were put under psychological stress for giving electric shock to the learner, a confederate in the study.
Show video about 5 min.

13. APA Principles of Research
Participants should consent to participate in research.
Fill out Informed Consent Form
Deception: lying to participants about the true intentions of the study.
Prevents knowledge of study from affecting the results.
Permitted as long as participants are not at risk.
Participants should be fully informed of the nature of the research project.
Debriefing session at end of study
Bring consent form to class
2- Participants should be fully informed of the nature of the research project.
Are the cases when deception is justified?
Providing a complete explanation or description of the project may influence the participants’ responses.
It is arguable that deception may be justified in some cases if our results are to be unbiased or uncontaminated by knowledge of the experiment.
Debriefing: Involves explaining to the participants the nature and purpose(s) of the project.
3- Risks should be avoided whenever possible.
participants at risk – will suffer some emotional or physical stress due to being in the study
Participants at minimal risk – no harm or stress due to being in the study
Vulnerable populations
-children, older adults, mentally retarded people, people with low literacy rate, or language abilities
4- The experimenter is the single individual who is ultimately accountable for the ethical conduct of the research project.
The researcher carefully weighs the benefits and costs of a project and then decides whether to conduct it.

14. APA Principles of Research
Risks should be avoided whenever possible.
Vulnerable populations
Participants should be conducted by scientifically qualified personnel.
Participants have the right to discontinue participation at any time.
Bring consent form to class
2- Participants should be fully informed of the nature of the research project.
Are the cases when deception is justified?
Providing a complete explanation or description of the project may influence the participants’ responses.
It is arguable that deception may be justified in some cases if our results are to be unbiased or uncontaminated by knowledge of the experiment.
Debriefing: Involves explaining to the participants the nature and purpose(s) of the project.
3- Risks should be avoided whenever possible.
participants at risk – will suffer some emotional or physical stress due to being in the study
Participants at minimal risk – no harm or stress due to being in the study
Vulnerable populations
-children, older adults, mentally retarded people, people with low literacy rate, or language abilities
4- The experimenter is the single individual who is ultimately accountable for the ethical conduct of the research project.
The researcher carefully weighs the benefits and costs of a project and then decides whether to conduct it.

15. APA guidelines for the use of animals
Justification of Research
Personnel
Care and Housing of Animals
Acquisition of Animals
Experimental Procedures
Field Research
Educational Use of Animals

16. The Institutional Review Board (IRB)
(IRB) is a review panel for the use of human participants & animals in research projects.
every university/college that conducts research has to have an IRB
Members of IRB:
faculty (history, biology, education, psychology, and economics)
members from the community who are not associated with the institution.
Medical doctors
Veterinarians

17. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is using another person’s ideas and words as if they were your own.
When you use someone else’s words or ideas you must refer to the source of this information.
You can avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing and citing the source of this information using APA style.
Recently , scientist in South Korea Hwang Woo Suk said he was able to clone the first human embryo. All these researchers were amazed. It turns out that he lied about his findings to get support. Now, he left the field and is ashamed for the rest of his career. Please read a handout I posted on Blackboard on this case.