What is Psychology?

Psychology is… The science that studies behavior and the physiological and cognitive processes that underlie behavior It is empirical Conclusions are based on direct observations rather than speculation, traditional beliefs, or common sense Which demands data and documentation…

The Scientific Approach Goals Measurement and description Understanding and prediction Creating a hypothesis and then testing it Application and control Apply info. to everyday events

Steps in the Scientific Process Initial observation or question Scientist observes something noteworthy and asks a question about it. WHY? Example: Kitty Genovese incident Why did no one help?

Steps in an investigation 1. Gather info and formulate a hypothesis What info already exists? Use info to formulate a hypothesis (specific question about a phenomenon) Identify variables-anything that can take on two or more values Ex. Did a diffusion of responsibility occur? Hypothesis: If multiple bystanders are present, then each bystander’s likelihood of intervening will decrease.

2. Select the method and design a study Experiments (manipulates one or more variables) Case studies (in-depth investigation of a person) Surveys (collect info via web or paper and relate to variables of interest) Naturalistic observations (direct observations)

Choose participants Ex. Kitty Genovese incident Create emergency in a controlled setting Use an experiment to manipulate # of bystanders present an emergency situation Measure helping

3. Collect the data Use direct observations, questionnaires, interviews, psychological tests and recordings, and examination of archival records Ex. split participants into high # of bystander condition or a low # of bystander condition Run the study

4. Analyze the data and draw conclusions Are there differences between the conditions? How big of a difference? Is it meaningful? Use statistics to explain the magnitude of differences Helping decreases as the perceived number of bystanders increase (If hypothesis not supported, revise and retest)

5. Report the findings Communicate and share the findings Present at conference  Poster, paper, presentation Journal  Experts review and critique

Using Experimental Research Manipulate one or more variables under controlled conditions in order to observe changes in another variable Only approach to determine cause-effect relationships Independent Variable (IV): factor is manipulated by experimenter Dependent Variable (DV): factor that is measured by experimenter and may be influenced by the IV

Experimental Group Group that receives treatment or an “active” level of the IV Control Group Group that is not exposed to the treatment or receives a zero-level of the IV Purpose of control group: provide a standard of behavior to which the control group can be compared

Extraneous Variables Any variable other that the IV that influences results Confounding variables Two variable that are intertwined that make it unable to determine which one has influenced the DV

Examples of Confounding Variables Group 1Group 2Group 3 IV-Type of Music New AgeCountryRock Confounding Variable - Volume Level LowModerateHigh

Manipulating Multiple Variables You can measure two or more IV or measure two or more DV within a single experiment Interested in the effects of expectations and actual effect of caffeine on task performance Two IV  Expectancy of caffeine: expects vs. doesn’t expect  Actual drink: receives caffeine vs. receives none  LvS0aNw&feature=relmfu LvS0aNw&feature=relmfu

Advantages/Disadvantages Advantages Allows for cause-effect conclusions to be drawn Disadvantages Artificiality of study Can’t be used to examine all scientific questions Ethical and practical issues

When you can’t use the experimental method to address a research question, you can use … Case Studies Naturalistic Observations Survey Research Correlational Research