Research Methods

Natural Observation Cardinal Rule: Do not disturb people or animals you are studying! Conceal yourself and be unobtrusive Studies organisms in natural environment Does not employ controls

Natural Observation Cont. Psychologists avoid using this method b/c it doesn’t provide the how's and whys of behavior. You only know what you can see. Ex. Jane Goodall’s research with Chimps

Case Studies Used by psychologists and psychiatrists Tries to get at background causes of behavior Includes info about family relationships, school, performance and occupational adjustment

Case Studies Continued… Based on philosophy that the more we know about a person the better equipped the therapists is to understand and help them.

Interview Method Value of data (info) depends on interviewer (must be skilled in not presenting biased information Must observe body language as well as verbal responses

Questionnaires (surveys) Involves sending selected questions to a group of people called “sample”

Questionnaires Continued… A sample is a small group of people out of the total population which the researcher hopes represents society “random sample” is picked arbitrarily

Psychological Testing Standardized and intended for specific purpose Results help establish norms in behavior They are not absolutes for predicting future success They are a means to an end; not an end in themselves

examples I.Q. Test WAIS – Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale Key Math Achievement Test Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests

Types of Studies Longitudinal Study Cross-sectional Study

Directed Observation A refinement of natural observation but is more specific Looks at only one specific behavior – may have to use controls occasionally Ex. Certain medical research such as electrode implantation in the brain

Experimental Method Most specific/sophisticated of all research methods

Types of Experiments Natural Experiment: studies something that is occurring naturally in the environment… manipulation occurs w/o human intervention. Example: natural disasters

Field Experiments Field Experiments: the experiment manipulates/ changes conditions in a real life setting.

Types of experiments cont… Laboratory experiments: (most sophisticated) essential…highest degree of control/precision. Environment is completely controlled by researcher.

Problems? Avoidance? Self-fulfilling prophecy: The scientist or researcher finds what he/she wished to find and overlooks the evidence. It’s human nature to find only the evidence which supports your hypothesis.

Double Blind procedure Double-Blind Procedure: The researcher and the subjects are blind to the experiment. Neither knows who is actually involved until research is completed Example: Test brand name cola vs. off brand

Experiment Method Explanation In order to qualify as an experiment it must have these components –

Hypothesis: Educated guess Example: How much sleep effects a test performance?

Variables Independent Variable: produces the effect. It is something which is manipulated or controlled in a predetermined way…example: amount of sleep Dependent Variable: The change that occurs as a result of the independent variable. It is usually the subjects response to the changed condition. Example: Performance on test

Groups Control group: everything remains the same/measures normal response. (all subjects go normal amount of sleep) Experimental group: a variable/condition is changed and the response is measured (were not allowed to sleep