research methods

© 2012 by W. W. Norton & Company

RESEARCH METHODS

Introduction and Chapter 1

Detailed Learning Objectives1. Articulate how the roles of consumers and producers of psychological research are similar and how they differ.2. Explain how theories and data interact to form empirical inquiry.3. Identify examples of basic and applied research and describe the interactions between the two kinds of research.4. Describe how the peer-review process affects the communication of scientific ideas.5. Describe the differences between empirical journals and popular journalism; describe the goals of each format and give examples of ways that journalists can write better stories about scientific news.

Research Producers, Research Consumers

Research Producers, Research Consumers

• Why the producer role is important• Why the consumer role is important• Benefits of being a good consumer

Being a Good Consumer

Article on Facebook and self-esteem

Discussion QuestionsWhat do you think of the study they ran? Is this applied or basic research? What theory might this article have been testing?Do you have any questions about the journalist’s coverage of it?

Four Scientific Cycles

Four Scientific Cycles

• The theory-data cycle• The basic-applied research cycle• The peer-review cycle• Journal-to-journalism

cycle

Theory-Data Cycle

The Contact-Comfort Theory (example of the theory-data cycle)

Basic-Applied Research Cycle

Peer-Review Cycle

From manuscript to journal article

The role of journal editorsThe role of peer reviewers

Rejection, revision, or acceptance

The Journal-to-Journalism Cycle