lecture 2 – chapter 2 research is a process of inquiry
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Lecture 2 – Chapter 2 Research is a Process of Inquiry. Chemist Astrophysicist Neuroscientist Sociologist Physician Social Psychologist Mathematician Biologist Criminologist Molecular Biologist. Whose research is more scientific?. ? 1. Idea Question. That place they call - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
•Chemist•Astrophysicist•Neuroscientist•Sociologist•Physician•Social Psychologist•Mathematician•Biologist•Criminologist•Molecular Biologist
Whose research is more scientific?
Scientific Method
?1. Idea
QuestionObservations
That place they call the “Library”
2. Develop idea into hypothesis
Deductive/InductiveBasic vs Applied
“If” “Then” Theories & Models
7. Reporting Results: Class, scientific meeting, publication
3. Design: procedures, stats, subjects etc FUN PART FUN PART
4. Experiment – collection of data Fun but HARD
5. Data Analysis - Statistics
6. Interpretation: Develop new theory or support oldParsimony
Fun but HARD
Fun and not HARD
1. Research Question
2. Do “lit” search (300B!!!!)
3. Has your question already been asked?
4. What methods have already been used?
1. Research Question
2. Do “lit” search (300B!!!!)
3. Has your question already been asked?
4. What methods have already been used? Refine your research
question..Ramon Y Cajal
1. IdeaQuestion?
Use EBSCO HOST - Psych InfoUSE PUB MED - Medical Sciences
Scientific Method
Deductive/InductiveBasic vs Applied
“If” “Then” Theories & Models
2. Develop idea into hypothesis
Applied Research
Generate info that can be applied directly to the solution to a “real world” problem
• research on creating change• interventions, treatments• usually done outside the lab
EX: CATCH Program: Behavioral Intervention Program
LARGEST School-Based Health Study Conducted
• CATCH was created as a research project late (1980’s - early 1990’s)• UCSD, Univ of Minnesota, Tulane Univ and UTHSC at Houston• Purpose of the research: develop an elementary school-based program to reduce the risk factors related to cardiovascular disease
Basic Research
• Gather general info (general laws)• Seek knowledge for its own sake• Not concerned with application • Usually carried out in a lab • “Confirmation” or “disconfirmation” of a theory
Basic: What physiological mechanisms underlie the detection of lights of different wavelengths? What cells are most affected by a visual disease?
Applied: How can I use different wavelengths to diagnose disease?
Basic Research (Can it happen???)vs
Applied Research(Will it happen??)
Which is more important???
External vs internal validity….will discuss in detail in later chapter
Theory:
A set of assumptions (empirical data) that attempts
to explain a phenomena
TestableSupport RejectModify
NEVER PROVE!!!!!
Good Theory: Testable, predictions must be testable, falsification (Sir Karl Popper)
Empirical Observations = collecting data
Basis for Theories
Facts of the Research
• set of assumptions • ideas and facts
• formalized set of concepts•summarized/organized observations & inferences
To explain & predict behavior
Is it All Observable Behavior???
FactsChildren PlayingAdults InteractionPhysiological responses (HR, GSR)Rats eatingAmounts of neurotransmitters
vs ConstructsMemoryIntelligenceLoveAttitudesEmotions
Empirical Observations = collecting data
Inferences: CONSTRUCTS• non observable• defined by us
CONSTRUCTS: Inferences we make
ego
id
Super ego
Reification of a construct: logical error when we confuse a fact with a construct
personality
memory
Deductive vs Inductive
General Specific
Specific General
Based on facts make predictionsabout future observations
Based on observations you make predictions
Top Down Bottom Up
Theory
Hypothesis
confirm
observations
Bottom Up - Inductive
Top Down – Deductive
observationLook for patterns
hypothesis
theory
Inductive theories
deductive theories
Scientific Method
?Idea
Question
Develop idea into
hypothesis
Reporting Results: Class, scientific meeting, publication
Design: procedures, stats
Subjects etc..
FUN PART
FUN PART
Experiment – collection of data Fun but HARD
Fun but HARD
Data Analysis - Statistics
Interpretation: Develop new theory or support oldParsimony
Fun and not HARD
•Nonscientific •Naturalistic Observation•Case Study•Correlational Research•Quasi-experimental Research•Experimental Research
Types of Research (approach to gathering data)Le
vel of
Const
rain
t
HI
LOW
Level of Constraint: control = more precision
Naturalistic Observation – Low constraint
The observation of subjects in their natural environmentThe researcher imposes no limits or changes in the environment or behavior of the subjects
•1960: First recorded instance of tool making by nonhumans•1964: Capable of planning (kidnapped baby in order to get mother and the rest of the group to follow)•1966: Polio and AIDS •1974: Warfare: first record of violence of this type-rival group was eradicated. •1975: Cannibalism •1987: Adoption •1994: short-term monogamous relationships; Technology transfer-Chimps from one community "modeled" the tool making behavior of chimps in another community•1995: medicate-eat plants-a medicinal plant believed to relieve stomach pains or reduce internal parasites.
Case Study – Low constraint
The subject is in a moderately limiting environmentThe researcher intervenes only slightlyObserve the participant’s responseAn in-depth description of one subject, organization or event ex: medical field: Case of H.M.
- H.M.: Epileptic Seizures- 1953, age 27 years- Bilateral medial temporal lobectomy-Oops..anterograde amnesia- Studied for 40 years
Low Constraint…
H. M. can be considered the single patient that has provided the largest collection of data to the students of memory [Corkin,1984]
[Milner,1968].
Correlational research – Constraint
Quantify the degree of relationship between two variableMeasurement procedure must be carefully defined and precisely followedNo manipulation of variables – two sets of measurements in the same subject then correlate
ex. Is there a relationship between class attendance and grades? Dr. Sumaya’s hypothesis:the greater the attendance the higher the grade…
CANNOT INFER CAUSATION! 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 901000
10
20
30
40
percentage (class grade)
days
att
ende
d
Quasi–Experimental Research (Differential)– high constraint
Two or more preexisiting groups of subjects (variables) a are comparedSetting is highly constrained (controlled)Measurement procedures carefully designed and precisely followed
ex: investigating the differences between 18 and 50 yr olds on sexual activity
ex: survey data – attitude towards banning smoking
Experimental Research – highest constraint“True Experiment”
Subjects are assigned without bias to the various groups or conditions in the study (random assignment!)The setting is ALL about controlMeasurement procedures carefully designed and precisely followed
ex: want to investigate the effects of a drug on
depression
Can infer causation!
Scientific Method
?Idea
Question
Develop idea into
hypothesis
Reporting Results: Class, scientific meeting, publication
Design: procedures, stats
Subjects etc..Experiment – collection of data
Data Analysis - Statistics
Interpretation: Develop new theory or support oldParsimony
Whose research is more scientific?
• Depends on the method• Level of Constraint
• Depends on your research question
What level of constraint?