1. Chapter 2 What is Research?
Psychology
Chapter 2
What is Research?

2. Psych Journal #4 (5 min)
Think about your memory and your ability to transform everyday experiences into memories. Describe a recent event that you saw or an encounter you had with another person. Some things to consider as you write:
Do you think you have a good memory?
Do your memories feel firm or vague?
What details can you remember about this event or encounter?
Do you think you would make a good eyewitness in court?

3. Limits of Intuition and Common Sense
Hindsight Bias
tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it
the “I-knew-it-all-along” phenomenon

4. Limits of Intuition and Common Sense
Overconfidence
we tend to think we know more than we do
“They couldn’t hit an elephant at this
dist----”
Last words of Gen. John Sedgwick, 1864

5. Research Strategies: Terms to Know
Beware of ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE!

6. Research Strategies Four Types of Psychological Research Case Study
an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
Not generalizable

7. Research Strategies Naturalistic Observation
observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
“You can observe a lot by watching.”
--Yogi Berra

8. Research Strategies Survey False Consensus Effect
technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people
usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them
False Consensus Effect
tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors

9. Survey DifficultiesWording
Reported survey results in 1992: one out of five Americans “doubted that the Holocaust occurred.”
Actual question: “As you know, the term Holocaust usually refers to the killing of millions of Jews in Nazi death camps during WW II. Does it seem possible or does it seem impossible to you that the Nazi extermination of the Jews never happened?”

10. Survey Terms Population Random Sample
all the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study
Random Sample
a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

11. Survey Terms Correlation: a relationship between two variables
Causation: one variable directly causes another

12. Correlation Does Not Imply Causation!
Take these two examples
Age and Diseases
Body lice and health

13. Research Strategies Experiment
the investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe their effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable) while controlling other relevant factors by random assignment of subjects

14. Experiment Terms Random Assignment
assigning subjects to experimental and control conditions by chance
minimizes pre-existing differences between those assigned to the different groups

15. Experiment Terms Double-blind Procedure Placebo
both the subject and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the subject has received the treatment or a placebo
commonly used in drug-evaluation studies
Placebo
an inert substance or condition that may be administered instead of a presumed active agent, such as a drug, to see if it triggers the effects believed to characterize the active agent

16. Experiment Terms Experimental Condition Control Condition
the condition of an experiment that exposes subjects to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable
Control Condition
the condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental treatment
serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment

17. Experiment Terms Independent Variable Dependent Variable
the experimental factor that is manipulated
the variable whose effect is being studied
Dependent Variable
the experimental factor that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable
in psychology it is usually a behavior or mental process

18. Experiment Terms
Longitudinal – retesting the same subjects over a period of years
Cross-sectional – comparing a variety of subjects at one point in time

19. Research Strategies Comparing Research Methods
Research Method Basic Purpose How Conducted What is
Manipulated
Descriptive To observe and Case studies, surveys, Nothing
record behavior and naturalistic
observations
Correlational To detect naturally Computing statistical Nothing
occuring relationships; association, sometimes
to assess how well among survey
one variable predicts responses
Experimental To explore cause Manipulating one or Independent
and effect more factors and using variable(s)
random assignment
to eliminate preexisting
differences among
subjects

20. Read Graphs Carefully Percentage still functioning after 10 years
Our Brand Brand Brand
Brand X Y Z
100% 99 98 97 96 95
Percentage
still functioning
after 10 years
Brand of truck

21. Read Graphs Carefully Percentage still functioning after 10 years
Our Brand Brand Brand
Brand X Y Z
100% 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
Percentage
still functioning
after 10 years
Brand of truck

22. Statistical Reasoning
A Skewed Distribution 90
475
710 70
Mode Median Mean
One Family
Income per family in thousands of dollars

23. Homework: Natural Observation
Researchers conducting natural observation record only what can be seen and have to police themselves so that they do not make inferences about what the subject might be feeling.

24. Homework: Natural Observation
You will be choosing a group to watch at a distance (either at school, home, or a public place). You should watch them for 10 to 15 minutes and record a list of any and all behaviors (NOT FEELINGS OR JUDGMENTS) that you observe the group doing. On Wednesday I will check your lists and you will share them with a partner.