Research MethodsResearch MethodsPsy 402-01Psy 402-01

Dr David A KaiserDr David A Kaiser

LECTURE 1: SCIENTIFIC METHOD

VHS: Clever Hands

Zimbardo #2 - VH 1518.02

Syllabus

Experiment 0Experiment 0

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• BUTTER BUTTER • RADIORADIO• CHAIR CHAIR • DOOR DOOR • POTATOPOTATO• EGG EGG • WATER WATER • GIRL GIRL • TREETREE• HEAD HEAD • KEY KEY • COFFEECOFFEE

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• BUTTER BUTTER • RADIORADIO• CHAIR CHAIR • DOOR DOOR • POTATOPOTATO• EGG EGG • WATER WATER • GIRL GIRL • TREETREE• HEAD HEAD • KEY KEY • COFFEECOFFEE

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• MIAMIMIAMI• DOLPHINSDOLPHINS• BUFFALOBUFFALO• BILLSBILLS• NEWNEW• ENGLANDENGLAND• PATRIOTSPATRIOTS• DALLASDALLAS• COWBOYSCOWBOYS• BOSTONBOSTON• REDRED• SOCKSSOCKS

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• ACUMEN ACUMEN • MORASS MORASS • PUGILIST PUGILIST • REBUS REBUS • AMITY AMITY • FOIBLE FOIBLE • YUCCA YUCCA

• GADFLY GADFLY • BASILISK BASILISK • BIVOUAC BIVOUAC

• ENCEPHALON ENCEPHALON

• STEERAGE STEERAGE

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• BREAD BREAD • TELEVISIONTELEVISION• TABLETABLE• WINDOWWINDOW• TOMATOTOMATO• SEEDSEED• FIREFIRE• BOYBOY• FLOWERFLOWER• FOOTFOOT• LOCKLOCK• SODASODA

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Psychology is the scientific Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and study of mental processes and behaviorbehavior

– WHY DO PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH?WHY DO PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH?– Want to know more about why people behave the way Want to know more about why people behave the way

they do. they do. – e.g., depressed friend, relationship breaks down e.g., depressed friend, relationship breaks down

Goals of Psychological ResearchGoals of Psychological Research1. 1. Measure and Describe Measure and Describe BehaviorBehavior Important to determine how to Important to determine how to measure phenomenon so it can measure phenomenon so it can be described.be described.

2. 2. Understand and Predict Understand and Predict BehaviorBehavior To evaluate understanding, To evaluate understanding, psychologists make and test psychologists make and test predictions (i.e., hypotheses) predictions (i.e., hypotheses) about phenomenon under about phenomenon under investigation.investigation.

3. 3. Modify and Control BehaviorModify and Control Behavior Ultimate goal: apply information Ultimate goal: apply information about phenomenon to "real-about phenomenon to "real-world" problemsworld" problems

Research in PsychologyResearch in Psychology

WHAT DRIVES PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH?WHAT DRIVES PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH?- Existing TheoriesExisting Theories- Evaluate, extend, or even discredit a theory. Evaluate, extend, or even discredit a theory.

- Other ResearchOther Research- Replicate, extend, or discredit existing research. Replicate, extend, or discredit existing research.

- Personal ObservationPersonal Observation- Casual curiosity or new interest Casual curiosity or new interest

Research in PsychologyResearch in Psychology

WHY BECOME FAMILIAR WITH METHODS IN WHY BECOME FAMILIAR WITH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY

Psychologists are empirical: rely on Psychologists are empirical: rely on formal, formal, systematic observationssystematic observations to address questions to address questions

Gain an appreciation for psychological research Gain an appreciation for psychological research

Enhance understanding of research-based info Enhance understanding of research-based info from from school, life, and media school, life, and media

Improve your ability to think criticallyImprove your ability to think critically

Learn to evaluate reports from a research Learn to evaluate reports from a research perspective to know what to disregard.perspective to know what to disregard.

Scientific MethodScientific Method

Evaluate ideas objectively, with degree of Evaluate ideas objectively, with degree of confidenceconfidence

Rules on how to collect, summarize, and analyze Rules on how to collect, summarize, and analyze data data

Evaluating Without Scientific Evaluating Without Scientific MethodMethod

““Clever Hans” phenomenon, facilitated autistic Clever Hans” phenomenon, facilitated autistic communicationcommunicationNeither knew answer if questioner failed to know itNeither knew answer if questioner failed to know it

Hans was sensitive to primate nonverbal cuesHans was sensitive to primate nonverbal cues

• Watch “Clever Hans” segment from Watch “Clever Hans” segment from NOVA’s “Signs of the Apes, Songs of NOVA’s “Signs of the Apes, Songs of the Whales” – 45 sec long!the Whales” – 45 sec long!

Science is a set of rules to Science is a set of rules to keep us from lying to each keep us from lying to each

otherother

ControlControl: Keep variables & groups constant or : Keep variables & groups constant or equivalentequivalent

ManipulationManipulation: Change only one thing at a time: Change only one thing at a time

Use of Use of scientific methodscientific method – i.e. systematic – i.e. systematic observation and experimentation as well as observation and experimentation as well as logic and reasoning to resolve questions about logic and reasoning to resolve questions about human nature human nature

The difference between The difference between philosopher & philosopher & psychologist?psychologist?

Aristotle, 4Aristotle, 4thth century BC century BC Wilhem Wundt, 1879Wilhem Wundt, 1879

• Watched 25 min video, Discovering Watched 25 min video, Discovering Psychology (Zimbardo) #2, Psychology (Zimbardo) #2, Understanding ResearchUnderstanding Research

Research MethodsResearch MethodsPsych 402Psych 402

LECTURE 2 - LECTURE 2 -

Library Search AssignmentLibrary Search Assignment

Electronic DatabasesElectronic Databases

Introduction to Experimental DesignIntroduction to Experimental Design

Assignment 1: LIBRARY Assignment 1: LIBRARY SEARCHSEARCHDue in one weekDue in one week1.1. Number EEG papers on autism (autism, asperger, autistic)Number EEG papers on autism (autism, asperger, autistic)2.2. Number of sleep deprivation papers on high school kidsNumber of sleep deprivation papers on high school kids3.3. Number of subjects in the one study on sleep deprivation, Number of subjects in the one study on sleep deprivation,

naps, and caffeine in high school kidsnaps, and caffeine in high school kids4.4. Number of papers published by Carl Sagan in EnglishNumber of papers published by Carl Sagan in English5.5. Number of sleep papers published since January 1, 1980Number of sleep papers published since January 1, 19806.6. Number of co-authored papers by DA Kaiser & MB StermanNumber of co-authored papers by DA Kaiser & MB Sterman7.7. Maximum score on Autism Spectrum Quotient Test (AQ Test) Maximum score on Autism Spectrum Quotient Test (AQ Test) 8.8. Maximum female score on the AQ testMaximum female score on the AQ test9.9. Size in grams of Immanuel Kant’s brain Size in grams of Immanuel Kant’s brain 10.10.Publication year of the one book in Wallace library on a Publication year of the one book in Wallace library on a

feral/neglected child who was discovered in the 20feral/neglected child who was discovered in the 20thth century century

Use Medline for questions 1-5Use Medline for questions 1-5PsycInfo for question 6PsycInfo for question 6any source for remainder any source for remainder START HERESTART HERE

DesignsDesigns

Induction: inference of a general Induction: inference of a general principle from particular instance(s)principle from particular instance(s)

Deduction: inference in which the Deduction: inference in which the conclusion about particulars follows conclusion about particulars follows necessarily from general or universal necessarily from general or universal premisespremises

• Absence of evidence is not evidence Absence of evidence is not evidence of absenceof absence

• 6 min Sasquatch video6 min Sasquatch video