1. Ch. 2 – Methods of Psychology

2. Placebos
A placebo is a “medicine” that has no active ingredients and works by the power of suggestion.
Used to:
Study the power of suggestion
Study the actual effect of a real medicine

3. Double Blind Studies
In a double-blind study, neither participants nor researchers know to which group any subject belongs (experimental group, control group, placebo group, etc.)
Used to eliminate experimenter expectancy effects – researchers sometimes influence results accidentally because of their expectations. They can’t if they don’t know what to expect!

4. 3 Basic components of research
1. Hypothesis: what the experimenter thinks the results will be
Full moon will increase mental hospital admissions.
2. Subjects: beings being studied
People being admitted to mental hospital.
3. Variables: factors that change in the experiment
Phases of the moon and rate of mental hospital admissions

5. Hidden or unexpected variables
They can invalidate the results!
If the full moon falls on a weekend, then the fact that it’s a weekend could be the cause of the results, not the full moon.
You must be sure that your results are caused by the variables you are testing.

6. Components of an experiment
Independent variable: The factor that the experimenter manipulates
Dependent variable: The factor that changes as a result of the independent variable
It DEPENDS ON the independent variable
Example: I want to find out if eating pizza makes people happier.
Independent variable: Pizza
Dependent variable: Happiness
Come up with your own!

7. Components of an experiment
Control group: The group that does not receive “treatment” – the critical part of the experiment in not performed on them.
Experimental group: The group that receives “treatment” – the critical part of the experiment is performed on them.
Example: Does jet lag result from flying itself or from time zone changes?
Control: Takes 4-hour flight but crosses no time zones.
Experimental: Takes 4-hour flight and crosses 3 time zones.

8. Laboratory study Studies that take place in a laboratory setting.
Allows for objectivity
Usually provides accurate info
Setting somewhat artificial

9. Field study Research that takes place outside the lab.
Setting more realistic, and therefore potentially more accurate results
Difficult to control all variables

10. Survey method
Research that involves asking questions about feelings, behavior, or opinions.
Simple way to gather accurate information
People could lie
Might not be representative sample
Question phrasing could skew results

11. Naturalistic observation
Research that involves studying people without their knowledge.
Accurate because behavior is completely natural
Creepy?
Behavior could be interpreted incorrectly – no way to find out

12. interview
Research that involves asking questions and studying people face-to-face.
Can get detailed information
Subjects could lie
Researcher biases can affect subjects’ behavior

13. Case study method
Research that collects detailed info about a person and their background.
Learning about background can explain present behavior
Subject could lie
Researcher biases could affect subjects’ behavior or interpretation of information

14. Psychological test
Objective measures of various things, such as intelligence
Provides accurate, objective info
Limited in the amount of information that can be obtained
Subjects could lie

15. Longitudinal method Research that studies the SAME people over time.
Useful in studying things like development
Expensive and time-consuming

16. Cross-sectional method
Research that studies different age groups at the same time to understand an entire life span.
Samples are representative of whole population
Less expensive and time-consuming than longitudinal
Can’t study development accurately

17. 6 ethical guidelines 1. Do no harm.
2. Ensure that participation is voluntary.
3. Debrief - Remove any misconceptions caused by deception.
4. Provide results and interpretations to participants.
5. Maintain confidentiality.
6. Accurately describe risks to potential subjects.