Psych 1000 - Module 2: Psychological Research

Scientific Method

Ideas are tested against the real world, and those empirical observations lead to more ideas that are tested against the real world, and so on; the scientific process is circle. Includes:

• Deductive Reasoning

• Inductive Reasoning

Deductive Reasoning

Ideas are tested in the real world.

• starts with a generalization that is tested against real-world observations.

Inductive Reasoning

Real-world observations lead to new ideas.

• Uses empirical observations to construct broad generalizations.

Theory

A well-developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for an observed phenomena.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about how the world will behave if our idea is correct, and is often worded as an if-then statement.

(e.g., if i study all night, I will get a passing grade on the test)

Falsifiable

Capable of being shown to be incorrect.

Survey Research

allows researchers to easily collect data from relatively large samples.

Correlational Research

Can find the relationship between two variables.

Thalamus

A major sensory relay centre in a part of the brain.

Clinical

A large, systematic, controlled study used to test treatments in groups.

Case Study

In-depth, descriptive analysis of a singular patient or small group.

Generalizing

The ability to apply the findings of a particular research project to larger segments of society.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behaviour in its natural setting.

Benefit of Naturalistic Observation

The validity, or accuracy, of information collected unobtrusively in a natural setting.

Downside of Natural Observation

Often too difficult to set up and control.

Structured Observation

People are observed while engaging in set, specific tasks.

Observer Bias

People who act as observers are closely involved in the research project and may unconsciously skew their observations to fit their research goals or expectations.

Surveys

Lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally.

Sample

A sublet of individuals selected from a population.

Population

The overall group of individuals that the researchers are interested in.

What are the 3 measures of Central Tendency

Mode, median, and mean.

Mode

The most frequently occurring response.

Median

Lies at the middle of a given data set.

Mean

The arithmetic average of all data points.

Benefits of Surveys

We can collect information from a larger sample of people.

Downside of Surveys

1. Given the greater number of people involved, we are not able to collect the same depth of information on each person that would be collected in a case study.

2. People don’t always give accurate responses. They may lie, misremember, or answer questions in a way that they think makes them look good.

Archival Research

Using existing records to answer various research questions.

• relies on looking at past records or data sets to look for interesting patterns or relationships.

Important Distinctions of Archival Research

1. The researcher employing archival research never directly interacts with research participants.

2. The investment of time and money to collect data is considerably less with archival research.

3. Researchers have no control over what information was originally collected.

4. Research questions have to be tailored so they can be answered within the structure of the existing data sets.

Longitudinal Research

A research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time.

Cross-Sectional Research

A researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time.

Attrition Rates

The reduction in the number of research participants due to dropouts. Very high in longitudinal studies and continue to increase over the course of a project.

Correlation

A relationship between two or more variables, but this relationship does not necessarily imply cause and effect.

Correlation Coefficient

A number from -1 to +1 that indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between variables. Usually represented by the letter r.

NOTE:

Closer to +1 or -1: The more strongly related the variables are, and the more predictable changes in one variable will be as the other variable changes.

Closer to 0: The weaker the relationship, and the less predictable the relationship between variables become.

Positive Correlation

The variables move in the same direction.

Negative Correlation

The variables move in opposite directions.