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- 1. Research Methods AP Psych– Chapter 2 Psychology’s Scientific Method Alice F. Short Hilliard Davidson High School
- 2. Psychology Majors • 2Most Commonly Required Classes: – Research – Statistics A SHORT Time to Ponder Why would these be the two most required classes for psychology majors across the country?
- 3. Chapter Preview • Psychology’sScientific Method • Types of Psychological Research • Research Samples and Settings • Analyzing and Interpreting Data • Conducting Ethical Research • Thinking Critically About Research • Scientific Method and Health and Wellness
- 4. A SHORT Timeto Ponder • As a society, do we value critical thinking? • Is critical thinking uncomfortable sometimes?
- 5. Scientific Method • Scienceis a method. • (It’s a VERB) • It’s not what you study, but how you study it. – any objective person can use the scientific method 1. observe some phenomenon 2. formulate hypothesis and predictions 3. test through empirical research 4. draw conclusions 5. evaluate the theory
- 6. Scientific Method –1. Observe • Step 1: Observe some phenomenon – curiosity – variables – theory
- 7. Scientific Method –2. Hypothesize • Step 2: Formulate hypotheses and predictions – testable prediction – derived from theory
- 8. Scientific Method –3. Research • Step 3: Test through empirical research – operational definition of variables – analyze data using statistical procedures
- 9. Scientific Method –4. Conclusions • Step 4: Draw conclusions – replication of results → reliability – If other people cannot replicate your study, then your result are unreliable. – What could this potentially mean for your study? (Think critically!)
- 10. Scientific Method –5. Evaluate • Step 5: Evaluate the theory – change the theory? – peer review and publication • publish or perish – meta-analysis – method by which researchers combine results across studies to establish the strength of an effect – theory = broad umbrella category which can either be supported or refuted by testable hypotheses
- 11. Descriptive Research • Goal:Describing a phenomenon – observation – surveys and interviews – case studies • Descriptive research does not answer questions about how and why things are the way they are
- 12. Correlational Research • Goal:Identify relationships (does not mean there is a causal relationships) – correlation coefficient: r • -1.00 ≤ r ≤ 1.00 – strength of relationship: magnitude – direction of relationship: + / -
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- 15. Correlational Research • PositiveCorrelations – factors vary in same direction – ↑ and ↑ … or … ↓ and ↓ • Negative Correlations – factors vary in opposite direction – ↑ and ↓ … or … ↑ and ↓
- 16. Correlation and Causation •correlation does not equal causation • third variable problem – Why would some people not WANT to consider a third variable problem? • longitudinal design
- 17. Experimental Research • Goal:Determine causation – random assignment – extremely important in experimental design – independent variable(s) – manipulation – dependent variable(s) – measurement • All of these vocabulary terms are very important to KNOW!
- 18. Experimental Research • ExperimentalGroup – independent variable is manipulated • Control Group – treated equally, except no manipulation of independent variable
- 19. Validity • External Validity –representative of real world issues? – do results generalize to the real world? • Internal Validity – are dependent variable changes the result of independent variable manipulation? – bias? logical errors?
- 20. Bias and Expectations •experimenter bias • demand characteristics • research participant bias • placebo effect • double-blind experiment
- 21. Example of ExperimentalResearch: Self Esteem • Baumeister’s research findings: – “high self esteem leads to aggression” • Donnellan & Trzesniewski’s research findings: – “low self esteem leads to aggression” • What accounts for these different findings? – lab-only aggression? – type of self esteem?
- 22. Applying Different ResearchMethods to the Same Phenomenon • Example: Election of President Barack Obama • Possible Research Methods: – observation – survey and interview – case studies – correlational research – experimental research
- 23. Research Sample • Population –entire group about whom conclusion drawn • Sample – portion of population actually observed • Representative Sample – characteristics similar to population – opposite of “biased sample” • Random Sample – equal chance of being selected
- 24. Research Settings • “Artificial”world – laboratory setting – controlled setting • Real world - natural setting – naturalistic observation • DISCUSSION: What are the advantages and disadvantages of each setting?
- 25. Analyzing and Interpreting Data • Statistics –mathematical methods used to report data • Descriptive Statistics – describe and summarize data – Measures of Central Tendency • mean • median • mode – Measures of Dispersion • range • standard deviation • Inferential Statistics – draw conclusions about data – does data confirm the hypothesis? – statistical significance – α = 0.05 (confidence level) – bridge between sample and population
- 26. A SHORT Timeto Ponder • What is the difference between descriptive statistics and inferential statistics?
- 27. Research Ethics • researchparticipants have rights • Institutional Review Board (IRB) • APA Guidelines – informed consent – confidentiality – debriefing – deception
- 28. Animal Research inPsychology • animal research has benefited humans • used by 5% of researchers • rats and mice used 90% of time • standards of care in animal research – housing – feeding – psychological and physical well being
- 29. Reality TV –Ethical Issues? • informed consent? • Deception? • psychological and/or physical risk? • is the behavior real? • DISCUSSION: What do YOU think?
- 30. A Wise Consumer… isskeptical yet open-minded! • Cautions – exercise caution in applying group trends to individual experience – avoid overgeneralizing results – look for converging evidence – question causal inferences – consider the source
- 31. Expressive Writing andHealth • Results of study on suicide v. accidental death – different survivor health – different survivor rate of talking about the loss • Results lead to study on writing – those assigned to write about a trauma experienced better physical health
- 32. Chapter Summary • Explainwhat makes psychology a science. • Discuss common research settings and the main types of research that are used in psychology. • Distinguish between descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. • Discuss some challenges that involve ethics, bias, and information. • Discuss scientific studies on the effect of writing about ones trauma.
- 33. Chapter Summary • Stepsof the Scientific Method 1. observe 2. hypothesize 3. research 4. conclude 5. evaluate • Research Methods and Settings – descriptive, correlational, and experimental studies conducted in natural settings or the lab
- 34. Chapter Summary • DataAnalysis and Interpretation – descriptive and inferential statistics • Challenges: Research Ethics and Bias – APA guidelines and the IRB • Expressive Writing and Health and Wellness – benefits of writing about trauma