1. Research Methods: Thinking Critically with Psychological Science

2. The Need for Psychology Science

3. Do Now Fact or Falsehood Before attempting the quiz, predict how many you will get correct. Complete Handouts 2-2 / 2-5

4. 4 The Need for Psychological Science Intuition & Common Sense Many people believe that intuition and common sense are enough to bring forth answers regarding human nature. Intuition and common sense may aid queries, but they are not free of error. A bullet is fired from a gun across an open field. A bullet is dropped from a person’s hand. Which hits the ground first? A bullet is fired from a gun across an open field. A bullet is dropped from a person’s hand. Which hits the ground first?

5. 5 Errors of Common Sense & Limits of Intuition Try this! Fold a piece of paper (0.1 mm thick) 100 times. How thick will it be? 800,000,000,000,000 times the distance between the sun and the earth. Personal interviewers may rely too much on their “gut feelings” when meeting with job applicants.

6. Did We Know It All Along? Hindsight Bias Hindsight Bias –“I knew it all along” – “Out of sight, out of mind” – “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” Examples: –Jurors told to ignore information by the judge –Vick is obviously a better quarterback than Kolb –Handout 2-2

7. 7 Overconfidence Sometimes we think we know more than we actually know. Anagram BARGEGRABE ENTRYETYRN WATERWREAT How long do you think it would take to unscramble these anagrams? People said it would take about 10 seconds, yet on average they took about 3 minutes (Goranson 1978). Overconfidence, t ogether with hindsight bias, can lead to overestimate our intuition -Do Now Quiz -Handout 2-3 Overconfidence, t ogether with hindsight bias, can lead to overestimate our intuition -Do Now Quiz -Handout 2-3

8. 8 Psychological Science How can we differentiate between uniformed opinions and examined conclusions? The science of psychology helps make these examined conclusions, which leads to our understanding of how people feel, think, and act as they do!

9. The Scientific Attitude Three main components: – Curiosity (passion for exploration) – Skepticism (doubting and questioning competing ideas) – Open-Minded Humility (ability to accept responsibility when wrong).

10. Critical Thinking –“Smart thinking” does not accept arguments and conclusions blindly. –Four elements: Examines assumptions Discerns hidden values Evaluates evidence Assesses conclusions

11. How Do Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions?

12. 12 A Theory is an explanation that integrates principles and organizes and predicts behavior or events. Good theories explain by: 1)Organizing and linking observed facts 2)Implying hypotheses that offer testable predictions and sometimes practical applications For example, low self-esteem contributes to depression. The Scientific Method

13. 13 In Psychology, a Hypothesis is not an “educated guess” or “testable question.” A Hypothesis is a testable prediction, often prompted by a theory, to enable us to accept, reject or revise the theory. A statement of relationship among variables. i.e. People with low self-esteem are apt to feel more depressed. The Scientific Method

14. 14 Research Observations Research would require us to administer tests of self-esteem and depression. Individuals who score low on a self-esteem test and high on a depression test would confirm our hypothesis. The Scientific Method

19. 19 1)Must be Replicable - Why? 2)Must be Falsifiable - Hypothesis stated in such a way that it can be rejected (Loch Ness Monster example) 3)Must be Precise - Use of Operational Definitions 4)Must be Parsimonious - Apply simplest explanation to set of observations (i.e. falling asleep in math class) Making Research Scientific

20. 20 1)To find ways to measure and describe behavior 2)To understand why, when and how events occur 3)To apply this knowledge to solving real world problems Purposes of Psychological Research

21. Describing Psychological Research General Terms used: –Variables: the events, characteristics, behaviors, or conditions that researchers measure & study –Subject (or participant): an individual or animal a researcher studies –Sample: collection of subjects researchers study (bc cannot study entire population) –Population: collection of people or animals from which researchers draw a sample Study sample & generalize to population 21

22. Operational Definitions Statement of procedures (operations) used to define research variables –Defines what the researcher will be observing and manipulating –Ex. – human intelligence operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures Operational Definitions MUST be: –Measurable –Manageable 22

23. Operational Definitions With a partner, attempt to operationally define the following: 1)Happiness 2)A Smile 3)Popularity 4)Good Music 23

24. Definition Slides

25. Hindsight Bias = the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. Also known as the “I knew it all along” phenomenon.

26. Critical Thinking = thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.

27. Theory = an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.

28. Hypothesis = a testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

29. Operational Definition = a statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. i.e. Human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.

30. Replication = repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.

31. Case Study = an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.

32. Survey = a technique for ascertaining the self- reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.

33. Population = all the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn. Note: Except for national studies, this does NOT refer to a country’s whole population.

34. Random Sample = a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

35. Naturalistic Observation = observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.