PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODS AP PSYCHOLOGY: CHAPTER 2

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODS AP PSYCHOLOGY: CHAPTER 2

Bellwork: Why do we need Psychological Research?

What were your thoughts..

Hindsight Bias I knew it all along phenomenon Examples.. 2 groups.. Absence makes the heart grow fonder or.. Weakens.. Flashcards..

Overconfidence We tend to think we know more than we do.. WREAT WATER ETRYN ENTRY GRABE BARGE OCHSA Overconfidence In history We don t like their sound. Groups of guitars are on their way out. Decca Records in turning down a contract w the Beatles. They couldn t hit an elephant at this distance. General Sedgwick just before being killed during a Civil War battle 1864;

Order in Random Events Given random data, we look for order and meaningful patterns. Your chances of being dealt either of these hands is precisely the same: 1 in 2,598,960.

Order in Random Events Given large numbers of random outcomes, a few are likely to express order. Angelo and Maria Gallina won two California lottery games on the same day. Many people have been struck by lightening 2+ times. Think about it! An event happens to 1 in a billion people occurs 7 times a day, 2500 times a year!

The Research Process (Big Picture)

The Research Process (The Detailed Picture)

Components of Research Variables Factors or characteristics in research. Can be manipulated or measured. Data # representing research findings Provide the basis for research conclusions. Theory Statements that can account for, or predict behavior. Subject to critical thinking.

Components of Research Critical Thinking Basis for research (stems from curiosity). Helps assess reliability & claims. Hypothesis Testable prediction. Operational Definition Descriptions of the EXACT operations or methods. Operational Definition Exercise

Research Methods Goals Describe behavior Accurately predict behavior Demonstrate control over Behavior Explain how & why behavior occurs. Naturalistic Observation Case Studies Surveys Correlational Studies *Helps measure behavior Experiments *Helps determine cause & effect

Methods of Psychological Research (p. 44) Method Features Strengths Weaknesses Naturalistic Observation Observation of human or animal behavior in the environment it typically occurs. Provides descriptive data about behavior presumably uncontaminated by outside influences. Observer bias and participant self-consciousness can distort results. Case Studies Intensive examination of the behavior and mental processes associated with a specific person or situation. Provide detailed descriptive analysis of new, complex, or rare phenomena. May not provide representative picture of phenomena. Surveys Standard sets of questions asked of a large number of participants. Gather large amounts of descriptive data relatively quickly and inexpensively. Sampling errors, poorly phrased questions, and response biases can distort results. Correlational Studies Examine relationships between research variables Can test predictions, evaluate theories, and suggest new hypotheses. Cannot confirm causal relationships between variables.

Methods of Psychological Research (p. 44) Method Features Strengths Weaknesses Experiment Manipulation of an independent variable and measurement of its effects on a dependent variable. Can establish a causeeffect relationship between independent and dependent variables. Confounding variables may prevent valid conclusions.

Which Method to Use? Identify parenting styles commonly used in the United States Determine why a school failed to meet appropriate standards. Describe differences in gender communication among 5 year old children. Determine a relationship between violent media (TV, video games, etc) and aggressive behavior. Identify the capacity of human short term memory.

Selecting Participants for Research Population Sampling Process of selecting participants who are members of the population. Using the sample, researchers use generalizability to draw conclusions. Representative Sample The sample of participants accurately reflect the greater population. Attempt to represent as many characteristics as possible (age/gender, etc). Random Sample Participants selected from the population (whose members had an equal chance of being selected). Attempts to avoid biased sampling.

Selecting Participants for Research Random Sampling Leads to Representative Sample Sampling Error Those selected may be slightly different than those not selected Non Response Error Participants selected may not agree to participate. Cost/Budget Issues Convenience Samples Drawing participants from conveniently available populations.

Population: Class of 1941 Random Selection of Subjects Provides a Representative Sample of the Class of 1941

Random Assignment of Subjects Makes subjects in both groups equal: controls for subject differences Experimental Group Control Group

Experimental Method Example: Can eye movements cause a change in emotion? Does Shapiro s EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) technique reduce anxiety? EMDR treatment causes a significant reduction in anxiety.

Experimental Variables Independent Variable (IV) Factor or condition being manipulated by experimenter. Dependent Variable (DV) Factor being measured. EMDR Anxiety

Independent vs Dependent 1. Developmental psychologists want to know if exposing children to public television improves their reading skills. 2. Physiological psychologists wonder about the relationship between the intake of wine and emotional reactions to frightening stimuli. 3. Sensory psychologists want to know whether birds also experience visual illusions. 4. Operant psychologists want to know whether reinforcing (rewarding) comments will make people work harder on an assembly line. 5. Cognitive psychologists wonder what kind of diagrams are easiest for people to remember. 6. Comparative psychologist study whether a young monkey will prefer to spend time with a pretend monkey 7. made of wire that also provides milk or a pretend monkey that is covered with cloth but provides no milk. 8. A clinical psychologist wants to know whether people who have had psychotherapy are more or less likely to have problems in the future. 9. A social psychologist wants to know whether being polite or rude to people tends to make them more cooperative. 10. An organizational psychologist test to see if wearing name tags make the employees happier with their work. 11. A personality psychologist explores whether extroverted people have more fun at parties.

Experimental Subject Groups Experimental Group Exposed to the IV Control Group Not exposed to the IV ALL OTHER CONDITIONS MUST BE EQUAL! Why? Confounding Variables Participants who receive EMDR treatment Serves as a basis for comparison Participants who did not receive EMDR treatment Factor that affects the DV (along with or instead of the IV) E Group: 50 min. focus on memory C Group: 8 min. Focus on memory

Experimental Controls Random Variables Uncontrolled (or uncontrollable) that effect the DV. Personality, background, life experiences, etc. Control: Random Assignment Random variables are evenly distributed. Participants are distributed through a random process (computer distribution, coin flip, etc).

Experimental Controls Participant Bias Knowledge/expectation of treatment changes the participants behavior/results. Control: Placebo Treatment Experimenter Bias Type of confounding variable Unintentionally encourage participant responses to support hypothesis Control: Double Blind Study (design in which experimenter nor participants know who is a part of experimental or control groups

Placebo Effect 100 Depressed Subjects 50 - Drug 50 - No Drug 38 Improve 8 Improve 100 Depressed Subjects 50 - Drug 50 - Placebo 38 Improve 20 Improve