1. Use this to predict & explain the world
Use a blank page in your notes to draw this blank flowchart.
Then…
Explain what you remember about the scientific method
Use this to predict & explain the world

2. Unit 1: Science of Psychology
AP Psychology
Unit 1: Science of Psychology
Essential Task 1-5:
Describe descriptive research studies taking into account random sampling, wording-effect and applicable biases.
Logo Green is R=8 G=138 B= Blue is R= 0 G=110 B=184
Border Grey is R=74 G=69 B=64

3. The Science of Psychology
Approaches to Psych
Growth of Psych
Research Methods
Statistics
Descriptive
Experiment
Case Study
Survey
Naturalistic Observation
Inferential
Ethics
Sampling
Central Tendency
Variance
Correlation
Careers
We are here

4. Essential Task 1-5: Hypothesis vs. Theory
Outline
Hypothesis vs. Theory
Describe descriptive research studies
Naturalistic Observation
Observer Bias
Can not replicate or generalize
Case Studies
Surveys
taking into account random sampling,
Wording-effect
Social Desirability Bias
Non-response Bias

5. Hypothesis
Hypothesis is a testable prediction that lets us accept, reject or revise a theory.
Ex: If families do not stress gender differences then there will be fewer sex differences in siblings. 5

6. Theory
Theory is an EXPLANATION based on evidence that PREDICTS behaviors or events.
A Theory must:
1. Fit the known facts
2. Predict new discoveries
3. Be falsifiable (possibility to prove it to be false)
4. Be simple. The simpler the better – Occam’s Razor
The claim "No human lives forever" is not falsifiable since it does not seem possible to prove wrong. In theory, one would have to observe a human living forever to falsify/refute that claim. “All humans live forever” could be falsified
If we were to observe that depressed people talk about their past, present, and future in a gloomy manner, we may theorize that low-self-esteem contributes to depression.
Occam’s: among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected.  6

7. CuriosityObservationHypothesisTest/Retest HypothesisTheory
Observe and describe the world (descriptive research!)
Form a hypothesis from your observations
Test your hypothesis.
Re-test your hypothesis
Then test it gain.
If it holds up you have a theory

8. Use this to predict & explain the world

9. 1. Observe the physiological reactions to fear
Pupils dilate
Flushing
Breathing increases
Heart beat increases
Sphincters release
All of these shots are taken from the Fear Factory at Niagara falls. Pictures are taken the moment a very scary thing happens much like ride photos on a amusement park ride.

10. 1. Form Hypothesis from your observations
If humans have a physiological reaction to a stimulus, they will experience an emotion. (James-Lange Theory of Emotion)

11. Descriptive Research Purpose – To describe what is in reality
Strengths
Certain descriptive research methods can be quick
You can generalize your findings (apply to more than just those from which you sampled) with some descriptive research methods
Weaknesses
Can’t help you predict
Can’t give you cause and effect

12. 3 Types of Descriptive Research
Naturalistic Observation
Survey
Case Studies

13. Use this to predict & explain the world

14. Descriptive Research DESCRIBES

15. Naturalistic Observation
A descriptive research method involving the systematic study of animal or human behavior in natural settings rather than the laboratory
Huh?
Researcher describes the behavior of the human or animal in their natural settings

16. Naturalistic Observation
Strengths
The behavior is more natural than if they were in the lab
Weaknesses
Can not replicate. Replication involves the process of repeating a study using the same methods, different subjects, and different experimenters. If you can’t replicate you can’t retest the results or apply them to new situations
Can not generalize (apply them to new situations) your findings.
Observer bias - occurs when the observers (or researcher team) know the goals of the study or the hypotheses and allow this knowledge to influence their observations during the study

17. Naturalistic Observations

18. Case Studies
Study of a single individual or just a few individuals in order to describe their situation.
Purpose? Take advantage of situation that you can not replicate (make happen again)
How? Gather as much evidence as you can: Observation, scores on psychological tests, interviews, medical records etc.
Outline

19. Case Studies Strengths: Weaknesses:
Takes advantage of nonreplicable situations
You get a lot of in-depth understanding
Weaknesses:
Observer bias is a problem
Can not generalize (apply your findings to other individuals or groups)
Can not replicate 19

20. Two most famous case studies in psychology
Genie
Phineas Gage

21. The Lost Children of Rockdale County
Case Study of a syphilis epidemic at a high school in an affluent suburb of Atlanta 21

22. Survey
Descriptive research technique in which questionnaires or interviews are administered to a selected group of people.
Huh? To describe a large group of people you ask them carefully worded questions.

23. Survey
Mallard Creek
High School
Strengths
You can generate a lot of information for a fairly low cost
Overcomes the false consensus effect
If you randomly sampled then you can generalize your findings to the population from which you sampled.
Vance
High School

24. Survey Weaknesses Wording Effect Social Desirability Effect
Wording can change the results of a survey.
Should cigarette ads be allowed on television?
Should cigarette ads be forbidden on television?
Social Desirability Effect
If directly asked about a sensitive subject, we may alter our answer to what we think is socially acceptable.

25. Sampling from a population
“The root of the problem is that in real life, all scientists ever observe are samples.  And, in real life, all they want to know about is populations” Nancy Darling, Ph.D. 25

26. Random Sampling
Sampling in which each potential population member has an equal chance of being surveyed.
Can’t just pull names from a hat
Alphabetical list and pick every 10th name.
Outline

27. But to all of those who were mailed surveys only 4% responded.
Non-response Bias
Women and Love study done by Shere Hite 1974
98% Dissatisfied by their Marriage
75% Extramarital Affairs
But to all of those who were mailed surveys only 4% responded. 27

28. When randomly sampled 93% of women are satisfied in their marriages
Only 7% had affairs 28

29. Use this to predict & explain the world

30. Comparison Research Method Advantages Limitations Naturalistic
Observation
More accurate than reports after the fact
Behavior is more natural
Observer can alter behavior
Observer Bias
Not generalizable
Case Studies
Depth
Takes advantage of circumstances that can not be replicated
Time consuming and expensive
Observational Bias
Surveys
Immense amount of data
Quick and inexpensive
Generalizable
Replicable
Poor sampling can skew results
Wording Effect
Social Desirability Bias
Comparison 30