PSY 285 Research Methods *A Review*

To All Students… Research and Statistical Support –All notes available online indefinitely – me if you need to set up an appointment for additional help related to analyses, design, or web-based research Applied Psychological Endeavors –Class announcements –Student activities that don’t make me puke

To “A” Students… Recommendations –Give me at least two weeks notice –Unofficial transcript, writing sample, meeting Research experience –Meeting to determine if lab projects will facilitate growth

What I Hope You’ve Gained Greater skepticism of studies Improved appreciation for research Decreased fear of research Increased indignation over pre-scientific policies; lack of world-saving Greater interest in social involvement Improved ability to examine and plan studies; write reports

Science Science vs. Pseudoscience Goals of science

Ethics What problems will you likely face? Informed Consent Confidentiality Deception / Debriefing

Research Ideas Basic vs. Applied Research

Measurement Reliability –Test-retest –Alpha –Inter-rater Validity –Face –Content –Criterion –Construct

Statistics p-value What does it mean? What if p =.03?.64?.000?

Observations and Surveys What makes for a good observation? What are the keys to a good survey?

Correlations Range of values? Two factors that attenuate correlations? Effect size for… r =.36 r = -.57 r =.11 r = 1.08 Why are correlations cool? What does R 2 mean? Why use regression?

Experiments IV vs. DV Validity: Measurement, Conclusion, Internal, External Between- vs. Within- subject design Cohen’s d t-test vs. ANOVA Control groups Main effects vs. Interactions

Policy Why are we not acting to save the world? What are quasi-experimental designs? What is program evaluation?