1. Research Methods In Psychology Mrs. Andrews

2. Psychology… The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

3. Goals of Psychology 1.Describe 2. Predict 3. Explain 4. Control Behavior and mental processes

4. Descriptive Research Methods Research methods that yield descriptions rather than explanations… they do NOT explain WHY

5. Naturalistic Observation Researchers observe and record subjects in their natural setting Advantages: natural setting, subject’s behavior is natural, spontaneous *can provide a great hypothesis Disadvantages: presence of a researcher could impact behavior, observer bias

6. Case Study Researchers observe and record one or a few participants in depth Advantages: get to know subjects well and can observe them in unusual situations *can provide a great hypothesis Disadvantages: findings may not be applicable to the whole population, can be time consuming, expensive and observer bias

7. Correlational Research A statistical method used to examine the relationship between two or more variables Advantages: allows for prediction of behavior Disadvantages: because two things vary together does NOT mean that one causes the other

8. Correlational Research A positive correlation means when one variable increases or decreases the other variable increases or decreases or

9. Correlational Research A negative correlation means when one variable increases the other variable decreases

10. Survey Research Using interviews and or questionnaires to gather information about aptitudes, beliefs, experiences or behaviors Advantages: can gather lots of information quickly and inexpensively Disadvantages: sampling biases skew results Poorly constructed questions result in ambiguous data Accuracy depends on the willingness of subjects to answer honestly and accurately (people may lie)

11. Survey Research Key Terms Population: the entire group of interest to researcher- from which the sample is chosen Sample: The portion of any population selected to study from which generalizations are made about the population Representative Sample: A sample selected from the larger population that is representative of the population as a whole

12. Experimental Method Method where researchers randomly assign participants to groups and control all variables except for one which is manipulated to see if it has an impact on another variable *Only type of research that can explain behavior (or prove cause and effect)

13. Experimental Method Key Terms Independent Variable: the variable researchers manipulate to determine its effect on another variable Dependent Variable: the variable measured at the end of an experiment to see if it changed as a result of manipulating the independent variable

14. Experimental Method Key Terms Experimental group: in the experiment the group that is exposed to the independent variable or treatment Control group: A group that is similar to the experimental group, but is NOT exposed to the independent variable or treatment

15. Problems With Experiments Selection bias: differences between the control and experimental groups are present from the beginning Random Assignment: Assigning participants by chance Placebo Effect: When a participant “feels” the effect of the independent variable without being exposed Experimenter Bias: When researcher’s preconceived ideas influence the participants behavior and or the interpretation Double blind technique: Participant and experimenter do not know who is in the experimental group

16. Experimental Method Advantages: reveals cause and effect relationships Disadvantages: Lab setting may inhibit natural behavior Findings may not generalize to the real world Potential for unethical experiments

17. Confused?? To review this material- look in your book pages 30-37 Homework: Read pages 37-40 (on Ethics and Psychological Research) and take notes!