feldman10_ppt_ch02
TRANSCRIPT
UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGY 10TH EDITIONBy Robert FeldmanPowerpoint slides by Kimberly ForemanRevised for 10th Ed by Cathleen Hunt
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CHAPTER TWO: PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
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MODULE 4: The Scientific Method
What is the scientific method?
What role do theories and hypotheses play in psychological research?
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MODULE 4: The Scientific Method
Scientific Method› Four main steps
1. Identifying questions of interest 2. Formulating an explanation 3. Carrying out research designed to support or
refute the explanation 4. Communicating the findings
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Theories:Specifying Broad Explanations
Theories› Broad explanations and predictions concerning
phenomena of interest
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Hypotheses:Crafting Testable Predictions
Hypothesis› Prediction stated in a way that allows it to be
tested› Stems from theories
Operational Definition› Translation of a hypothesis into specific, testable
procedures that can be measured and observed7
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MODULE 5: Conducting Psychological Research
What research methods do psychologists use?
How do psychologists establish cause-and-effect relationships in research studies?
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MODULE 5:Conducting Psychological Research
Research› Systematic inquiry aimed at the discovery of new
knowledge. Descriptive Research
› Systematic investigation of a person, group, or pattern of behavior.
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Archival Research
Existing data is used to investigate a hypothesis:› Census documents › College records› Newspaper clippings
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Naturalistic Observation
Investigator observes some naturally occurring behavior and does not make a change in the situation
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Survey Research
A sample of people chosen to represent a larger group of interest (a population) is asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, or attitudes
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The Case Study
An in-depth, intensive investigation of a single individual or a small group› Often includes psychological testing
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Correlational Research
Two sets of variables are examined to determine whether they are associated, or “correlated”› Variables
Behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change, or vary, in some way
› Correlation coefficient Positive Negative
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Aggression and TV Watching
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Experimental Research
Researcher investigates the relationship between two or more variables by deliberately changing one variable in a controlled situation and observing the effects of that change on other aspects of the situation › Experimental manipulation
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Experimental Research
Experimental Groups and Control Groups› Treatment
Manipulation implemented by the experimenter
› Experimental group Receives a treatment
› Control group Receives no treatment Rules out other reasons for change
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Experimental Research
Independent and Dependent Variables› Independent
The condition that is manipulated by an experimenter
› Dependent The variable that is measured and is expected to
change as a result of changes caused by the experimenter’s manipulation of the independent variable
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Experimental Research
Random Assignment of Participants› To make the experiment a valid test of the
hypothesis
Random Assignment to Condition › Participants are assigned to different
experimental groups or “conditions” on the basis of chance
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Experimental Research
Significant Outcome› Using statistical analysis, researchers can
determine whether a numeric difference is a real difference or is due merely to chance
Replication› Repeating experiment
Meta-analysis
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MODULE 6:Critical Research Issues
What major issues confront psychologists conducting research?
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The Ethics of Research
Informed Consent› Participants sign a document affirming that they
have been told the basic outlines of the study: awareness of what their participation will involve what risks the experiment may hold participation is purely voluntary voluntarily terminate study at any time
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Should Animals Be Used in Research?
Procedures that subject animals to distress are permitted only when an alternative procedure is unavailable and when the research is justified by its prospective value
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Threats to Experimental Validity: Avoiding Experimental Bias
Experimental Bias› Factors that distort the way the independent
variable affects the dependent variable in an experiment Experimenter expectations Participant expectations
Placebo
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