preview p.96 nb p. 95 “research methods” title page complete the fact or falsehood activity
TRANSCRIPT
The Scientific Attitude
The Amazing James Randi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYGjtlgGtY4
Curiosity, Skepticism, and Humility
The Scientific Attitude
How would you design a test for psychic ability?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sQHYkyq7Hs
The Scientific Method
Hypothesis- a statement of relationship between or among variables; testable prediction
Psychologists generate these statements after researching what other scientists have learned and observing variables in the environment
The Scientific Method
Theory- highly researched, rigorously tested frameworks that organize multiple studies under one umbrella of ideas
The Scientific Method
Generate a hypothesis based on assumptions you believe astrologers make about human behavior.
The Scientific method
Hypothesis: Personality types are associated with particular zodiac signs
1. Select the personality profile that best describes you and make a note of it below your “preview”
The Scientific MethodAries (March 21-April 19)
Taurus (April 20- May 20)
Gemini (May 21- June 21)
Cancer (June 22- July 22)
Leo (July 23- August 22)
Virgo (August 23- September 22)
Libra (September 23- October 22)
Scorpio (October 23- November 21)
Sagittarius (November 22- December 21)
Capricorn (December 22- January 19)
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
Pisces (February 19- March 20)
The Scientific MethodE - Aries (March 21-April 19)
B - Taurus (April 20- May 20)
C - Gemini (May 21- June 21)
A - Cancer (June 22- July 22)
F - Leo (July 23- August 22)
D - Virgo (August 23- Sept 22)
K - Libra (Sept 23- Oct 22)
H - Scorpio (October 23- November 21)
I - Sagittarius (November 22- December 21)
L - Capricorn (Dec 22- Jan 19)
J - Aquarius (January 20- February 18)
G - Pisces (February 19- March 20)
The Scientific Method
Independent Variable: Zodiac Sign
Dependent Variable: Choice of Personality Profile
The Scientific MethodChance Responding: On the basis of chance alone, 16.6% of responses should be correct (1 in 6 chance)
Probability: All 12 profiles would have made it harder to select the correct description by chance alone
Statistical Significance: Statistical procedures enable researchers to determine whether differences are due to chance.
Confounding Variables Can people accurately select personality profiles for themselves?
Select a profile that is more socially desirable?
Familiar with astrology?
Signs of the Sample
Operational DefinitionsDefines what the researcher is observing and manipulating
1. Measurable
2. Manageable
3. Replicable
Happiness
A smile
Intelligence
Popularity
Good Music
Case Studies
Psychodynamic: Freud developed theory on personality based on case studies.
Behaviorism: “Little Albert” and classically conditioned emotions
Neuroscience: Paul Broca’s “tan”
Survey Sampling
Representative Sample: Selecting participants that closely match the population studies
Sampling Bias: Selecting participants in a manner that does not allow for all potential subjects to have an equal chance of being selected
Sampling• Random sampling: choosing
participants at random from a larger population
• Random assignment: taking a randomly chosen sample and assigning participants at random to either the experimental or control group
Naturalistic Observation
Cafeteria Study
Observe the behavior of others during lunch time in the cafeteria1. Decide on a behavior to observe.
2. Record observations, maintain confidentiality, explain what you are doing if asked.
3. Report findings next class.