1. Research Methods in Psychology
PSYCHOLOGY – SSC 210
Research Methods in Psychology
Zahbia Sarfraz
Lahore School of Economics

2. Goals of Psychological Research
Description of social behavior
Are people who grow up in warm climates different from those in cold climates?
Establish a relationship between cause & effect
Does heat cause higher amounts of aggression?
Develop theories about why people behave the way that they do
We dislike students from other universities to feel better about ourselves
Application
Creating effective therapeutic treatments, more successful negotiation tactics, and greater understanding amongst groups of people

3. Empirical Research Empirical Knowledge based on direct observation
Must be observable & measurable
Theory
Set of ideas which try to explain what we observe
Goal is to find support OR disprove

4. The Scientific Method

5. The Process of Doing Research
First, select a topic
Then, search the literature
Find out what others have done that may be applicable to your area of interest

6. The Process of Doing Research
Next, formulate hypotheses
Hypothesis: specific statement of expectation derived from theory
State the relationship between two variables
Then pick your research method
Experimental vs. Descriptive (Design)

7. The Process of Doing Research
Finally, collect & analyze your
data
Accept or reject the hypothesis
Build a theory

8. Research Methods Experimental vs. Nonexperimental Methods
Nonexperimental methods include:
Surveys
Naturalistic Observations
Clinical Method
Correlational Studies

9. Nonexperimental Methods
Survey Method
Simply asking questions
Interviews and questionnaires
Advantage: more information in short time
Disadvantage: results can be influenced by three factors:
(a) sample of people who are surveyed can influence results
(b) cannot be sure answers are honest
© subtle factors have an influence e.g. based on how questions are asked, who asks the question etc.

10. Nonexperimental Methods
(ii) Naturalistic Observation - based on recording behavior as it occurs in natural settings - methods of guarding against participant’s reactions ruining observations: (a) unobtrusive observations (b) unobtrusive measures (iii) Clinical Method method of studying people while they are receiving psychological help from a mental health professional

11. Nonexperimental Methods
(iv) Correlational Method
A research method that measures the relation between variables
The primary difference between naturalistic observation and correlational studies is the use of quantitative measures in correlational studies

12. Nonexperimental Methods
Correlations vary in direction
- Positive correlation: increases in the value of variable 1 are associated with increases in the value of variable 2
- Negative correlation: increases in the value of variable 1 are associated with decreases in the value of variable
Correlation does not necessarily mean causation
However, if we know two variables are perfectly correlated (+1.00) then we can predict with total accuracy the subject’s score on one variable if we know the other variable.

13. Interpreting Correlations

14. Nonexperimental Methods
Advantages
Sometimes manipulation of variables is impossible or unethical
Efficient
Disadvantages
CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSATION
Could be a lurking variable

15. Experimental Method What is an experiment?
All experiments require at least two features:
Dependent Variable: the response measure of an experiment that is dependent on the subject
Independent Variable: a manipulation of the environment controlled by the experimenter
- An experiment must have at least two levels or values

16. Experimental Method Cause & effect relationships
Experimental group: group that receives some value of the IV
Control group: not exposed to any level of the IV and is used for comparison
If behavior in experimental group different from control group, the hypothesis that IV causes differences in DV supported

17. Experimental Method Conditions for formal experiments
Random assignment of participants to experimental conditions
Random sampling: selecting participants randomly from the population
All alternative explanations for the findings have to be ruled out through strict experimental control (only IV should be changing)

18. Experimental Method
Errors in experimental design can lead to the following problems:
Demand Characteristics
Cues available to subjects that allow them to determine purpose of experiment or what is expected by the experimenter
2. Experimenter Effects
Experimenter influences the outcome accidentally by providing slight cues
Experimenter’s appearance or manner may alter subject’s behavior

19. Experimental Method To eliminate these problems:
Double Blind Experiments: The researcher and participant does not know whether they are in EG or CG.
Double blind experiment is the best way to eliminate both effects
When manner/appearance of experimenter can alter behavior of subject, can add another IV or control variable

20. Experimental Method What happens when there are more than 1 IV?
Interaction: an experimental result that occurs when the levels of one IV are differentially affected by the levels of other IV
Main effect: the condition in which the effect of one IV is the same at all levels of another IV

21. Ethical Principles of Research
Ethics of research with human participants:
- the most important rule is: do no harm
- Freedom from coercion
- Informed consent
- Limited deception (should only involve aspects which will not influence decision to participate and must be revealed immediately afterwards)
- Adequate debriefing
- Confidentiality