Welcome to AP PsychologyAugust 6, 2015

Questions about Research• Answer one of the

following questions on the 3x5 card on your desk:

• Why should we conduct psychological research?

• Who benefits from psychological research?

• Why should high school students take psychology and learn about research?

• Are there any questions that research can’t answer?

Intros• 1. 3x5 Card: Name, favorite class(es) & why, something you

want me to know about you, one goal for this course

Objectives:• 1. learn two general questions to ask about research• 2. understand the “most important point”• 3. explain the difference between inductive and deductive

research• 4. apply knowledge & understanding of inductive & deductive

research

Ice-breaker Research• Exploratory Research Question: What do ice-breaker activities DO?

Ice-breaker Research• Exploratory Research Question: What do ice-breaker activities DO?• Literature shows that ice-breakers do the following:• Increase humor (Bailey, 2010)• Establish rapport (Calvillo, 2000)• Fosters a safe learning environment (Diaz, 2002)• Helps with content learning (Samat & Simon, 2005)• Improves student participation (Tan, Lu, & Lewis, 2004)• Enhances student learning (White & Yip, 2012)

• Now what? • Consider two general important questions:

• Now what? • Consider two general important questions:• 1. How are the researchers defining their variables?

• Now what? • Consider two general important questions:• 1. How are the researchers defining their variables?• 2. How are the researchers measuring their variables?

Questions about Research• Answer one of the

following questions on the 3x5 card on your desk:

• Why should we conduct psychological research?

• Who benefits from psychological research?

• Why should high school students take psychology and learn about research?

• Are there any questions that research can’t answer?

The basic purpose of research• Relationships between independent and dependent variables• Humor and ice breakers• Texting in class and grades• Exercise and health• Reading to children and academic development

The most important point:• What is your research question? • So, how do you come up with a research question?• Points to consider:• Is it answerable?• Are the assumptions scientifically acceptable?• Is it interesting/novel/unique?

Coming up with a research question

• Two ways: • 1. You have your question and then design your research

around that question: you conduct a literature review, you gather data, analyze those data, come up with results and discuss those results.

• 2. You have your data, explore those data, and then come up with a question (then go back to the data and analyze it and possibly change your research question) and then go through the above process.

Research Methods

Types of Research

Inductive Deductive

• If students read quietly in class, they will become better readers. • Does silent reading

increase students’ reading ability?• Alex is not a good

reader. • Therefore, Alex has not

been reading quietly in class.

Theory

Hypothesis/Research Question

Observation

Confirmation

• I’ve noticed that Alex is a really good reader. • Students who

participate in silent reading, seem to be good readers. • Does silent reading

improve reading ability?• Silent reading increases

students’ reading ability.

Observation

Pattern

Hypothesis/Research Question

Theory

Theory

Hypothesis/Research Question

Observation

Confirmation

Observation

Pattern

Hypothesis/Research Question

Theory

Application of Course Content: Your Turn• You are interested in researching ice breakers and classroom

interactions in elementary school aged children. You have observed a 4th/5th grade class for the past 1 month, 3 times per week.

• Big Question: If you were adopting an inductive approach to research, how would you go about developing your research question? • Process: Using the “ladder” picture as a guide, write down the

steps you would take/the details to get to your research question.

For next time:• Make sure you have read the syllabus!