1. Methods of Psychology

2. OVERVIEW I. Scientific Methods II. Experimental Procedures III. A Study of Stereotypes IV. Field Experiments V. Other Methods of Studying Behavior VI. Ethics in Experimentation VII. Psychology in your life

3. I. Scientific Methods Aspirin effectiveness study A. Placebo : a “fake medicine” that has no active ingredients and works by the power of suggestion (patient may expect to get better) A. Researchers expectations can influence outcome i.double-blind study: when neither participants or researchers know to which group subject belongs

4. II. Experimental Procedures Effects of the moon – abnormal behavior? A. Hypothesis – expected result B. Subjects – people in experiment subject selection: random, representative sample of larger population (size, composition, methods of selection) C. Variables – can change (vary) as one variable changes, how does the other? Isolate particular variables, control for irrelevant variables to obtain most accurate results i.Confounding variables

5. III. A Study of Stereotypes A. Women/Men as managers experiment B. Variables i.Independent - factor experimenter manipulates (input) ii.Dependent – factor that with change or vary (depends on independent…output)

6. IV. Field Experiments-takes places outside of the laboratory A. Studying Jet Lag – disrupts normal cycle of behavior i.Experimental group – crossed time zones ii.Control group – flew equal amount of time, but did not cross time zones (flew south) iii.Independent variable – alteration to usual light- dark cycles iv.Dependent variable – result of alteration; fatigue,

7. IV. Field Experiments A. Jet Lag B. Fighting Insomnia Example (p. 38-39) Experiments allow us to determine cause and effect. Lab experiment: researcher can be completely objective, but somewhat artificial setting Field experiment: setting more realistic, but often difficult to control all the variables

8. V. Other Methods of Studying Behavior A. Survey + Sample size - Low response rate, representativeness, wording (bias) B. Naturalistic Observation + Natural behavior - Incorrect interpretation C. Interview D. Case Study E. Psychological Tests

9. V. Other Methods of Studying Behavior A. Survey B. Naturalistic Observation C. Interview + Personal information - Not completely honest D. Case Study: Freud’s preferred method (and your final project) + Background information - Not completely honest, Researchers bias E. Psychological Tests + Accurate, objective - Limited amount of information

10. V. Other Methods of Studying Behavior F. Longitudinal + Developmental Studies - Expensive, time consuming G. Cross Sectional Studies + Accurate representation of population, less time consuming - not always appropriate H. IQ Test Results longitudinal: IQ remains constant cross-sectional: IQ declines as we age

11. VI. Ethics of Experimentation A. Decline/withdraw participation B. Openness/honesty – debrief afterwards C. Confidentiality D. Identify risks/consequences – address both E. Experimenting with Animals most are treated humanely

12.  Competence Maintain high standards, integrity Provide services, teach and conduct research only within boundaries of competence Stay up to date on current research  Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity Aware of culture and individual differences Avoid pain and suffering (or minimize)  Sexual Harassment/Multiple Relationships Avoid! Do not abandon clients  Confidentiality Creating, storing, accessing, and disposing of records May be violated to protect client or others from harm

13.  Institutional Approval From host institution (college, university) or organizations (Institutional Review Boards: IRBs) Only conduct approved research  Informed consent/Withdrawal Easily understood language describing nature of research Identify foreseeable consequences Participants may leave at any time  Inducements $-not excessive Can not offer extra credit  Deception Only if justified, approved by IRB Must be debriefed as soon as possible Counseling options offered  Plagiarism/Publication Credit Avoid plagiarism Take credit only for work actually performed or contributed to, give credit where credit is due

14.  Care and Use of Animals in Research Treat humanely (and most are) Minimize discomfort, infection, illness, pain Only when no alternative procedure Use appropriate anesthesia in surgical procedures When life needs to be terminated, done rapidly with minimal pain

15.  Psychology in your life p. 48-49 Socialized sex differences Gender differences in spatial skills Video game test

16.  How to report experimental findings  Graphical Analysis (trials)  Correlation – how they are related Graphs give visual correlation Reading interpreting and reporting Correlation coefficients  0 = no relationship  1 = perfect relationship  +/-.7 = strong relationship  Positive/negative correlation

17.  The Normal Curve Getting people into groups Normal frequency distribution  Mean, Median, Mode Representative numbers  Probability, Chance, Odds P=.5 (chance of tossing heads/tails) Significance – probability of occurring by chance  P =.oo1  p =.01  p=.05