1. Chapter 3 How Psychologists Use the Scientific Method:
Data Collection Techniques and Research Designs
Dawn M. McBride
The Process of Research in Psychology
Second Edition

2. Steps in the Research Process
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

3. Constructs and Variables
Conceptual Definition of Constructs
Broad description of the topic of the study: intelligence, depression, anxiety, stress
Variable: Operational Definition of Construct
How the researcher decides to measure the construct
Variables must vary - have at least two values or modes (gender, level of anxiety, type of treatment)
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

4. Conceptual Definition of Stress
Body's reaction to a change or situation that requires a physical, mental or emotional response that exceeds ability to cope and threatens wellbeing
College stress: demands in (1) academic, (2) family/social and (3) financial areas
Ethnic minority stress: negative experiences perceived to be linked to social, physical and/or cultural attributes of one’s ethnic group
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

5. Operational Definition - College Stress Scale
Please rate the stressfulness of each item based on your college experiences 1 2 3 4 5
Does Not Apply
Not at All Stressful
A little
Stressful
Moderately
Very
Extremely
Rating
1. Writing course papers
2. Meeting personal expectations for academic achievement
3. Balancing your social and academic commitments
4. Making your own decisions independent of family’s wishes
5. Paying for bills and living expenses
6. Paying for tuition and student fees

6. Operational Definitions of Stress
Bio-Markers of Stress
Amount of palmar sweating (called galvanic skin response) in response to a stressful event
Amount of salivary cortisol secreted in response to a stressful event

7. Satisfaction with Major City of residency while study is conducted
In a study with UH students living in dorms, which are potential variables?
Participants’
Age
Major
University enrolled
Satisfaction with Major
City of residency while study is conducted
Academic stress
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

8. Satisfaction with Major City of residency while study is conducted
In a study with UH students living in dorms, which are potential variables?
Participants’
Age
Major
University enrolled
Satisfaction with Major
City of residency while study is conducted
Academic stress
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

9. Data Collection Techniques
Naturalistic Observations
Surveys/Questionnaires
Systematic observation
Archival Data
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

10. Natural Observation
Count number of negative events in the following cartoon:
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

11. Data Collection Techniques
Naturalistic Observation
unobtrusively observing individuals in their natural environment
Define Categories of Behaviors to observe
Develop Coding Scheme
# of behaviors
length of time individual engage in behaviors
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

12. Data Collection Techniques
Surveys/Questionnaires
individuals self-report their behaviors and/or attitudes
Close-ended vs. Open ended
Validity – does it measure what one thinks it measures
Reliability- measures construct consistently
Social desirability
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

13. Hand Washing Behaviors: Survey
In surveys 90% to 96% of people indicate that they wash their hands
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

14. Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

15. Data Collection Techniques
Systematic Observation
observing behavior under controlled conditions – laboratory setting
Examples
Carrere, S., & Gottman, J. M. (1999). Predicting divorce among newlyweds from the first three minutes of a marital conflict discussion. Family Process, 38(3),
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

16. Data Collection Techniques
Archival Data
Observe behavior from pre-existing records
Data may have been recorded for research purposes or not
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

17. Data Collection Techniques
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

18. Data Collection Techniques
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

19. Research Designs Case Studies Correlational Studies Experiments
Quasi-Experiments
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

20. Research Design: Case Study
Intensive study of individual(s),agency or institution and their behaviors.
Naturalistic observations, interviews, focus-groups, and/or archival data
Typically exploratory – initial study of phenomena
Sample Question:
In a survey, immigrants with and without legal documents report similar levels of fear of deportation ???-
Focus groups conducted to better understand findings

21. Research Design: Correlational
Examine relationship between two variables to determine if:
two variables are connected and occur together
wine drinking and health
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

22. Research Design: Correlational
Examine relationship between two variables to determine if:
a predictor variable predicts an outcome
Predictor: Outcome
SAT Score College GPA (+)
TV watching College GPA (-)
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

23. Research Designs
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

24. Correlation Causation
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

25. Correlation~~~~~~~~ Causation

26. Research Designs: Experiment
Examination of causal relationship between two variables
Independent variable- more than 1 level or type
is manipulated: Treatment vs. Control or 2 Treatments
Random assignment to groups
Control of confounding variables
Dependent variable
outcome or effect: Depression
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

27. No-Treatment Control Group
Is the treatment more effective than the passage of time?
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

28. Placebo Control Group
Is actual treatment more effective than “pretend” treatment? Active ingredient vs. Doing something
Controls for expectation effects and psychological factors related to “doing something”
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

29. Control-- Treatment 1--Treatment 2

30. Two Treatments: Does amount of sleep affect reaction time in driving simulation?
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

31. Research Designs Quasi-Experiment
Like Experiment with no random assignment to groups
Use naturally occurring groups
Pre-Test/Post-Test
Outcome is measured both before and after a treatment or condition is implemented
No Control group
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

32. IV? DV? - Research Design: Experiment/ Quasi-Experiment/ Archival Correlational/ Pre-Test/Post-Test ??

33. Research Designs: Validity
External Validity:
degree to which results apply to individuals and every-day behaviors outside the study.
Internal Validity:
experiments: degree to which a cause-effect relation can be inferred
Requires high control of confound variables

34. Research Designs: Experiment

35. ZER0-SUM Game:

36. Research Designs: Reliability
The degree to which the results of a study can be replicated under similar conditions.
Reliability is important to consider when you design a study and choose an observation technique,
but how to increase reliability will depend on the observation technique you use
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

37. Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

38. Items Correct ------ Confidence
Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.