Notices Homework Memory test & Mark Psychology Trip Blog

http://psychologyjca.wordpress.com/ Research Methods

If we were going to conduct a psychological experiment on

memory… what would we need?

Make a list…

Types of Experiments

Big Q: What experiments do we use in psychology and how useful are they?

 

To research cognitive psychology, experiments are usually the main method used. But, in order for you to fully understand the Experimental Method… you must know a few important terms first!

You each have an envelope of cards. Each card makes up part of a key word table.

Try and re-create the first two columns of the table by matching up the key term to the definition.

Key Term Definition

When you have finished and have had your table checked… complete your worksheet. For each key term draw an image or

diagram to help you remember/revise from.

You now have 5 minutes to try and learn the key terms in preparation for a mini test…

Timer

1) Where might we conduct psychological

research?

2) Why might we conduct

psychological experiments in a laboratory? What

are the advantages?

Why do we use lab experiments?

http://www.thepsychologyfaculty.org/a-levels/item/92-why-use-laboratory-experiments-in-psychology

In pairs try to write a definition of the three main types of experiment used in Psychology…

Lab Experiment

Field Experiment

Natural Experiment

An experiment conducted in a tightly controlled environment where the IV is manipulated at the researcher observes

the effect of this on the DV.

An experiment carried out in an natural environment. The IV is still manipulated but it is done in an environment which is typical to the behaviour being studied.

This is also carried out in a natural environment however the IV is not

directly manipulated. Instead the IV is naturally occurring.

Now try and think of an area of psychology we might want to investigate by using each of the experiments. You could even come up with a research question if you wish…

Lab Experiment

Field Experiment

Natural Experiment

Study of sleep, perception and physiology (specialised conditions

required).

Social investigations. The influence of other people on individual

behaviour.

Studies that take advantage of changes in the environment. E.g. comparing the effect of television on children before and after the introduction of the TV.

Hypotheses

Research

Theories

Observation

Propose a hypothesis

Gather Evidence

Keep Hypothesis

Reject Hypothesis

Build a theory Publish results

Define the Problem

Aim: To investigate whether eating chocolate will improve memory.

What could our hypothesis be? Write a suitable hypothesis to

test out during this experiment?

Research has shown that eating chocolate can improve your memory, especially first thing in the morning. Sugar on the donuts helps the brain to produce the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which helps you to learn and remember and maintain attention.

“Students who eat chocolate before a memory test will remember more words from a list than students who did not.”

Experimental Hypothesis

Null HypothesisThis is another hypothesis that also needs to be stated. It states that the results will occur do to chance – i.e. are the results significant enough not to have occurred due to chance. It always states there will be no difference!

Statement about a predicted outcome of a study, usually based on theory.

“There will be no difference on scores on a memory test between those who ate chocolate before, and those who didn’t eat chocolate.”

Two types: One Tailed or Two Tailed?

One Tailed = ‘directional’The direction of the results is predicted.

‘Students who eat chocolate before a memory test will recall more words than students who didn’t eat chocolate.’

Two Tailed = ‘non directional’ A change or difference is predicted but a direction is not specified.

‘There will be a difference in the number of words correctly recalled between those students who eat chocolate and those who don’t’

CAR FRAME

APPLE LIGHT

FLOWER RING

CLOCK BOWL

FIRE WATCH

CAR FRAME

APPLE LIGHT

FLOWER RING

CLOCK BOWL

FIRE WATCH

What was the Independent Variable in our experiment?

(What did we manipulate)

What was the Dependent Variable in our experiment?

(What did we measure?)

How did we measure our variables?

We must define how we intend to measure the IV and DV =

operationalisation.

How might we operationalise the variable of ‘time’?

How many groups of participants did we use? Experimental design refers to how your participants are distributed.

Complete the worksheet

Repeated Groups Repeated Groups

Condition A Condition B

There is only one group of participants. This group takes part in both conditions.

Independent GroupsIndependent GroupsCondition A Condition B

There are two separate groups of participants. One group takes part in condition A, the other

takes part in condition B.

Matched PairsMatched PairsCondition A Condition B

There are two separate groups, but this time they are matched into pairs for certain qualities, such as age or intelligence. One of each pair takes part in condition A, the other takes part in condition B.

Which participant design did we use?

Why?

Can you think of any problems with the

experimental designs?

Order effects occur in repeated groups design, when all participants take place in all the experimental conditions.

-Practice effects might occur. After they have done the first condition they may be well practised to complete the second condition. -They also may become tired after the first condition and fatigue may affect their performance on the second condition.

The solution = counterbalancing and randomisation.

Counterbalancing. E.g. half of the participants participate in condition A before condition B and vice versa. This means that the first and second condition is not the same for every participant.

Randomisation. Participants are assigned to condition A or B first by tossing a coin or picking out a name.

We are now going to repeat the experiment just as before in

order to test how reliable it is.

VAN PHOTO

PEN BULB

ROSE EAR

MUSIC SPOON

RAIN SOCK

VAN PHOTO

PEN BULB

ROSE EAR

MUSIC SPOON

RAIN SOCK

Did we get about the same results as last time?

Can we establish a cause-effect relationship?

Why do you think this is?

Do you think we’d get the same results if we repeated it in a field or natural setting?

Which we can’t control!

What other factors might have affected our results?

What about things we can’t control?

Anything about the situation which may have affected our results?

Anything about the participants which may have affected our results?

Which we can’t control!

Extraneous Variables

Anything other than the IV that can influence your results. Otherwise known as a confounding variable that can’t be controlled.

Situational VariablesA type of extraneous variable found in the environment. Noise, light, time, location, temperature or weather.

Participant Variables

(Individual differences)

A type of extraneous variable found in participants. Motivation levels, moods, skills, experience, fatigue, eyesight etc.

These could all affect the VALIDITY of the findings. What’s validity again?

Let’s evaluate the different types of experiment!

Match the type of experiment to the correct advantage/disadvantage

What are the disadvantages and advantages of using lab, field and natural experiments?

When you’ve finished, look out the textbook to pad out your notes!

Designing your own Study into memory improvement What type of memory improvement will you

investigate? Will it be a replication or something new? What resources will you need? Who will your participants be? How is your study an improvement on the

classic studies? Hypothesis IV and DV Experimental design Lab field natural experiment.

How far do you agree that experiments are the best

method to use to study cognitive psychology?