1. Research Methods and Ethics
Chapter 1 Mod Two
Research Methods and Ethics

2. 2.1 What is the scientific Method?
Used by researchers in psychology to see only what is really there, not what their personal opinions, or biases, might what them to see. It is a system for reducing bias and maintaining objectivity in the measurement of data.
What are the steps of the scientific method?
Formulating the Question
Developing a Hypothesis
Testing the Hypothesis
Drawing Conclusions
Reporting the Results

3. 2.1 Vocab
Scientific method- system of gathering data so that bias and error in measurement are reduced
Hypothesis- tentative explanation of a phenomenon based on observations

4. 2.2 What Methods do researchers use to study behavior.
There are three main methods researchers use to study behavior.
1. nonexperimental methods
2. correlation method
3. experimental method

5. Vocab 2.2
Naturalistic observation- the study of people or animals in their natural environment
Observer effect- tendency of people or animals to behave differently from normal when they know they are being observed
Observer bias- tendency of observers to see what they expect to see

7. Naturalistic Observation
Jane Goodall
Factory Workers study
Author on Adolescents

8. Vocab 2.2
Laboratory method- method of conducting research in a controlled environment
Case study- study of one individual in great detail
Survey method- method of conducting research in the form of interview
Representative sample- randomly selected sample of subjects from a larger population of subjects
Population- the entire group of people or animals in which the researcher is interested

9. Vocab 2.2
Correlation- measure of the relationship between two variables
Correlation coefficient- a number derived from the formula for measuring a correlation and indicating the strength and direction of a correlation
Experiment- deliberate manipulation of a variable to see if corresponding changes in behavior result, allowing the determination of cause-and-effect relationships

10. 2.2 Vocab
Operational definition- definition of a variable of interest that allows it to be measured
Informed consent- permission from a person to participate in an experiment after the risks and purpose of the experiment have been explained
Independent variable- variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the experiment
Dependent variable- variable in an experiment that represents the measurable response or behavior of the subjects in the experiment