Research MethodsinPsychology
The Scientific Method an organized way of using experience and testing ideas to increase knowledge
The Scientific Method 1. Identifying questions of interest 2. Formulate an explanation 3. Carry out research designed to support or refute the explanation 4.Communicate the findings
The Scientific Method 1. Identifying questions of interest
The Scientific Method A theory is a formulation of the relationships and principles that underlie observed events 2. Formulate an explanation
The Scientific Method Reword research question into an hypothesis. An hypothesis is a specific statement about behavior or mental processes that is tested through research
The Scientific Method Create an operational definition.
The Scientific Method 3. Test the hypothesis Use controlled methods such as naturalistic observation or experiment
The Scientific Method 4. Analyze the data and draw conclusions
Psychological Research A systematic study aimed at the discovery of new knowledge.
Descriptive Methods 1. Archival Research
Descriptive Methods 2. The Naturalistic-Observation method
Descriptive Methods 3. Surveys The individuals who are studied are called a sample. A sample is a segment of a population.
Descriptive Methods Representative sample Random sampling
Descriptive Methods 4. Case Studies
Descriptive Methods 5. The Correlational Method Studies the relationship between variables The variables are mathematically related and expressed as correlation coefficients. A correlation coefficient is a number between and –1.00 that expresses the strength and direction (positive or negative) of the relationship between two variables.
Descriptive Methods A positive correlation is a relationship between variables in which one variable increases as the other also increases.
Descriptive Methods A negative correlation is a relationship between two variables in which one variable increases as the other decreases. Correlational research may suggest but does not show cause and effect.
Experimental Method The Experimental Method An experiment is a scientific method that seeks to confirm cause and effect relationships by introducing independent variables and observing their effects on dependent variables.
Experimental Method A treatment is a condition received by participants so that its effects may be observed.
Experimental Method Experimental and Control Groups Experimental participants partake in the treatment, control groups do not. All other conditions are held constant for both groups.
Experimental Method An operational definition is a definition of a variable in terms of methods used to create or measure that variable A variable is a condition that is measured or controlled in a scientific study
Experimental Method An independent variable is a condition that is manipulated so that its effects may be observed. A dependent variable is the measured results, or outcomes, in an experiment. A placebo is a bogus treatment that has the appearance of being genuine.
Experimental Method Blind Study Well designed experiments control for the effects of participant expectations by creating conditions under which participants are unaware of the treatment and are called single blind studies.
Experimental Method Studies in which both participants and experimenters are unaware of who has obtained the treatment are called double- blind studies. Double Blind Study Researchers may have expectations and may subtly influence outcomes (experimenter expectations).
Ethics in Psychological Research
The End