FIELD METHODS

THE SURVEY METHOD

Defined as asking questions of a carefully selected group of people and tabulating their answers.

THE NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION METHOD

Defined as observing behaviors in their natural settings.

THE CASE STUDY METHOD

Defined as a thorough, exhaustive study of a person. It includes personal, educational, family, and work histories.

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS

Tests whether the sample results can be generalised to a population, using probability-based statistics.

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

Experimenter manipulates the IVs, then measures the results on the DVs

CONTROL GROUP

Treat same as experimental group except for the IV manipulation.

EXPERIMENTAL GROUP

Treat same as control group except for the IV manipulation

EXPERIMENTAL CONDITION

The condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable

CONTROL CONDITION

The condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental treatment

REPLICATION

It is the process of reconducting a previous research study to see whether its findings are generalisable

HYPOTHESIS

Is a statement of the results the experimenter expects. It is an explanation of an event or relationship

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH

It is an attempt to understand human experiences of themselves and the world.

THEORY

Refers to a specific set of assumptions and principles about a phenomenon.

SELF REPORT

People rate or describe their behaviour, opinion, or mental state

OBSERVATIONAL

Observe and record behavior rather than relying on subject descriptions

NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION

Researcher records behavior as it occurs naturally

TESTS

Researcher presents stimuli or problems and records responses

QUALITATIVE ( SUBJECTIVE )

Individuals' interpretation of events is important

QUANTITATIVE ( OBJECTIVE )

Seeks precise measurement & analysis of target concepts

OPERATIONALISATION

Refers to how a fuzzy psychological construct is actually measured e.g., the concept of intelligence has been operationalised through a variety of IQ tests

ALBERT EINSTEIN

If we knew what we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?

WILHELM ROENTGEN

I didn't think; I experimented.

CARL SAGAN

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.

ARTHUR SCHAWLOW

To do successful research, you don't need to know everything, you just need to know of one thing that isn't known.

KONRAD LORENZ

It is a good morning exercise for a research scientist to discard a pet hypothesis every day before breakfast - It keeps him young.

J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER

If you are a scientist you believe that it is good to find out how the world works, that it is good to find out what the realities are, that it is good to turn over to mankind at large the greatest possible power to control the world... It is not possible to be a scientist unless you believe that the knowledge of the world, and the power which this gives, is a thing which is of intrinsic value to humanity, and that you are using it to help in the spread of knowledge, and are willing to take the consequences.

ALBERT EINSTEIN

We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many different languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn't know what it is.

A.L. BOWLEY

A knowledge of statistics is like a knowledge of foreign languages or of algebra; it may prove of use at any time under any circumstances.

DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Describes patterns of behaviour and links between variables but doesn't imply causation

DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

Summarise & convey patterns in the sample data

BIAS IN RESEARCH

• Sampling bias

• Measurement bias

• Observer bias

• Self report bias

• Experimenter bias

• Publication bias ( file drawer effect )

WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

1. Observation 

2. Defining a problem 

3. Proposing a hypothesis 

4. Gathering evidence 

5. Writing results 

6. Building a theory 

WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE OF EXPERIMENTATION

• Hypothesis 

• Subjects 

• Independent variable 

• Dependent variable 

• Placebo

• Experimental Group 

• Control Group 

METHODS FOR STUDYING BEHAVIOR

• Interviews

• Laboratory Studies

• Case Studies

• Field Studies

• Psychological Tests

• Surveys

• Longitudinal Studies

• Naturalistic Observations

• Cross-Sectional Studies

BASIC ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCHERS

• Do no harm.

• Accurately describe risks to potential subjects.

• Ensure that participation is voluntary.

• Minimize any discomfort to participants.

• Maintain confidentiality.

• Do not unnecessarily invade privacy.

• Remove any misconceptions caused by deception (debrief).

• Provide results and interpretations to participants.

• Treat participants with dignity and respect.