1. Chapter 2 Research Process Part 1: Aug 30, 2010

2. Research Methods Importance of scientific method Research Process – develop ideas, refine ideas, test them, interpret results – 1. Development of ideas – steps? – Hypotheses and theories – what are each? – Basic v. Applied research –

3. Research Process 2. Refining ideas – Develop an operational definition: – Measuring variables – choose method: Self-reports: Observations: Technology:

4. Research Process 3. Test ideas: – Descriptive research – examples of each? Observational studies Archival data Surveys

5. Independent variables: what is manipulated – Examples? Dependent variables: observed to determine impact of IV – Examples? Subject variables:

6. The Correlational Method: determines if two variables are related – Positive, negative, or no correlation? Cannot make cause-effect conclusions. – Often a third variable can explain relations between 2 variables under study – Example? Need experiments to determine cause-effect

7. Experimental Methods: manipulate variables in attempt to examine cause  effect About 3/4ths of Social Psych research. Most is done in lab settings. 2 distinguishing factors: – 1. – 2. – Random assignment -

8. Example of an experiment – Schneider, Tomaka, & Palacios (2001). – What was the main point of this study? – What were the IV and DV? Statistical significance: how is this determined?