Research Methods in PsychologyGroup Activity

Friday August 5, 2011

Design Some Research1. The What: Choose an area of psychology & social

science that interests you (rating attractiveness among teens, intelligence level vs. sleep, musical taste and behavior, customer treatment based on clothing style

2. The Who: Develop your target group for study—teens, young adults, males, females, parents, senior citizens,

3. The Why: rationale and reason for studying, also what psychological perspective or theory you might be using (see chapter 1)

4. The When: will this project take place. Also include how long with the research take.

5. The How: Develop a hypothesis, design a research method, collect and analyze data.

6. The Results: Report your findings (where would you publish or show)

7. The Replication: how many times will you need to replicate this research to be able to make accurate predictions,

The Experiment• Only research method capable

of showing cause and effect

Experimental Method1. Review Literature of Past

Research 2. Formulate Hypothesis3. Design Research/Study Method

(naturalistic observation, case studies, surveys, experiments, etc)

4. Collect/Analyze the Data 5. Report the Findings (journal,

critique, replicate)6. Draw Conclusion or Theory on

Explanation of Findings

Hypothesis• A statement about the relationship between two or more

variables• Must be testable and refutable• Instead of proving the hypothesis, science usually tries to

disprove a null hypothesis.

Null Hypothesis (H0): opposite of hypothesis

Statistical Significance : 95% not due to chance

Hypothesis Example:

H1: Gender has an effect on perceived intelligence

H0: Gender does not have an effect on perceived intelligence

Variables1. Independent Variable (I.V.): manipulated by

experimenter

2. Dependent Variable (D.V.): MEASURED variable influenced by independent

3. Operational definition

4. Confounding/extraneous variables

Control Group

• Receives no treatment or placebo

• Serves as a basis for comparison

• Serves to eliminate alternative explanations

Population – The larger group of people from which a sample is drawn

Sample: Representative of the population

Random: Every member of the pop has = chance

Stratified: Sample is put together by picking a

group statistically equal to the population

Control Measures• Single-Blind: subject unaware of assignment

• Double-Blind: subject and experimenter unaware of placement

• Randomization– From population (sample)– From assignment to groups (assignment)

Statistical Significance• Probability results are due to chance • Inferential stats are used to check for

either a 5% or 1% level of significance.

Lottery tickets 14, 3, 27, 41, 18

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Coin flips HHHHHHH or HHTHTHT

More likely?

CorrelationA statistical value of the relationship between two variables

Positive Correlation

As one number increases, the other increases.

Ex: Study time to GPA

Negative Correlation

As one number increases, the other decreases.

Ex: Absences to GPA

No Correlation

Variables do not affect one another in a significant way

Ex: Height to GPA

CORRELATION IS NOT CAUSATION!!!

• People that floss everyday live 3 years longer than those that do not.

• Red wine drinkers live longer than those that do not drink red wine.

• As speed limits increased on America’s highways, the death rate went down.

• Children who are played Mozart in the womb have higher IQ’s.

• Marijuana users in youth are more likely to have mental illness as adults.

• As Swim suit sales increased, so did shark attacks.

Other Research MethodsEx Post Facto (after the fact)

- Independent variable already present

- Not a true independent variable, no cause and effect

- Often used due to ethical concerns

Naturalistic Observation

- Natural setting: behavior is not interfered with or altered

Survey Method

- Gathers data on attitudes and behaviors.

Case Study

- Intense study of an individual

Flaws in Research

1. Sampling Bias

2. Overgeneralization

3. Placebo effect

4. Hawthorne/Barnum effect

5. Demand Characteristics

6. Experimenter Bias

Ethics in Research• Participants are free to withdraw at any time• No undo stress• Subjects informed of significant factors that may

influence their willingness to participate• Subjects should be debriefed• Ethical treatment of animals• Generally research goes before a review board

for approval

Evaluating Research

What are the STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES of:

ExperimentCorrelation

SurveysNaturalistic Observation

Case Studies