basic methodologies & ethicsethics psych 231: research methods in psychology

Basic Methodologies & Ethics

Psych 231: Research Methods in Psychology

Announcements

Exam 1: One week from today

General research approaches

Descriptive Describing the current state of the individual

variables• Observational, Survey, Case studies

Correlational Investigating the relationship between two (or

more) variables

Experimental Investigating the cause-and-effect

relationship between two (or more) variables

Correlational Methods

Measure two (or more) variables for each individual to see if the variables are related

Used for: Predictions Reliability and Validity Evaluating theories

Problems: Can’t make casual claims

Causal claims

We’d like to say:

variable X --causes--> variable Y

To be able to do this: There must be co-variation between the two

variables The causal variable must come first

Directionality problem• Happy people sleep well

• Or is it that sleeping well when you’re happy?

Need to eliminate plausible alternative explanations Third variable problem

• Do Storks bring babies?• A study reported a strong positive correlation between number of babies and stork sightings

Theory 1: Storks deliver babies

Theory 2: Underlying third variable

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are needed to see this picture.

The experimental method

Manipulating and controlling variables in laboratory experiments

Must have a comparison At least two groups (often more) that get compared One groups serves as a control for the other group

Variables Independent variable - the variable that is manipulated

Dependent variable - the variable that is measured Control variables - held constant for all participants in the experiment

The experimental method

Advantages Precise control possible

Precise measurement possible

Theory testing possible

Can make causal claims

Disadvantages Artificial situations may restrict generalization to “real world”

Complex behaviors may be difficult to measure

Ethics

Ethics – people should be treated as ends not means

Ethical Responsibilities in Research

Two basic categories of ethical concerns: Need to consider the rights of our participants in our research

Need to behave ethically as scientists and practitioners

Consider ethics at each step What measurement techniques will be used? How are participants selected? What methods may be used on the participant population?

What design is appropriate? How are the data analyzed? How are the results reported?

Ethical Responsibilities in Research

Using humans in research

For the most part the researcher has the power •You know what is

going to be done to the participants

•Participants may feel like they have to do it

Basic courtesy Institutional review board approval

APA’s code of ethicswww.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html

Institutional Review Board

IRB Criteria Minimize risk Benefits > Risks Equal opportunity sampling Informed consent Documentation of consent Data monitoring Privacy & Confidentiality

APA’s code of ethics

Basic courtesy Institutional review board approval Informed consent

www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html

Informed consent

Information to allow a person to decide if they want to participate Basic purpose of the study Participation is voluntary Risks involved Benefits involved Rights to refuse or terminate participation

Assent - guardians if participants are not competent• e.g., children, developmentally disabled people

Basic courtesy Institutional review board approval Informed consent Avoiding deception


Using deception in research

Passive deception Withholding information about the study

Active deception Deliberately misleading participants

Using deception in research

Avoid it when possible Alternatives to deception

• Role-playing• Simulation studies

When not possible to avoid Make sure that you are up front with all possible risks

Potential results must be worth it Must debrief participants as soon as possible (either right after participation or as soon as project is over)

Basic courtesy Institutional review board approval

Informed consent Avoiding deception Freedom from coercion Protection from harm Debriefing Confidentiality Costs vs. Benefits


Costs/Benefits analysis

Costs: all potential risks to the participants Physical harm Psychological harm Loss of confidentiality

Benefits: the “good” outcomes Direct benefits to participants Benefits to knowledge base Benefits to world at large

Scientific Integrity

Fraud prevention Replication – repeat a research study to validate results

Peer Review – critical analysis of research by peers in the same area

Plagiarism – taking credit for another’s work or ideas• Avoided by citing the ideas or words of others

Ethical responsibility to science

Dirty tricks (this will get you thrown out)

Questionable tricks (these are a little fuzzier, but be wary)

Neat tricks (accepted as okay, and sometimes necessary)

Ethics in Science Quiz


Fabrication of results Little or no attempt to minimize demand biases Reformulating your theory as you go Falsifying credentials Plagiarism Little or no attempt to minimize confounds Deliberately hiding (significant) errors in published work

Little or no attempt to minimize demand characteristics

DT

DTDTQT

QT

DTQT

NT

Dirty tricks

Questionable tricks

Neat tricks



Throwing out data

Reorganizing order of report of experiments Violations of underlying statistical assumptions

Strategic graphing of the data Duplicate publications (presented as new) Selective reporting of the results Leaving out some bad experiments (not bad results)

QT or DT

QTQT

QT

NT

NT

DT

Dirty tricks

Questionable tricks

Neat tricks

depends reason for throwing out


Using animals in research

Why use animals in research? Same building blocks (e.g., nervous systems)

Control• often we can’t control the relevant past experiences of our human subjects, but we can with animals

• easier to control certain experimental factors with animals

Irreversible and/or harmful effects


Why use animals in research (cont.)? Some unique, special characteristics

Simpler systems

May allow you to focus on particular variables (IV’s and DV’s), easier to do the experiment without a lot of complex interactions


But animals and humans are different Well, there are strong similarities

•evolution - common ancestry - as a result, things may work in similar ways

But, we do need to be aware that there are differences, and always keep that critical eye, think of alternative explanations

Animal ethics: What rights do animals have?

If animals are so similar to humans, then shouldn’t they have similar rights that humans have? Isn’t it unethical to do things to them that we wouldn’t do to ourselves?

There is no simple answer, no clear right or wrong. Each individual must decide for themselves.

However, animal research has certainly helped our (humans) lives

basic methodologies & ethicsethics psych 231: research methods in psychology

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