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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Natural Observation Count number of negative events in the following cartoon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfkZqyGJ3B0 Dawn M. McBride - The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition © 2013 SAGE Publications, Inc.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Correlation~~~~~~~~ Causation

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.

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.

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.

Control-- Treatment 1--Treatment 2

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.

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.

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

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

Research Designs: Experiment

ZER0-SUM Game:

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.

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

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