Psych 1 - Research Methods

Psychology

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Describe (goal of psychology)

- (usually) first step in understanding behaviour or mental processes

- Answers "what" question

- Observe, record, generate data (patterns)

- Naturalistic Observation & Laboratory Observation, Case Study

Explain (goal of psychology)

organize and make sense of what researchers have observed. Why is it happening?

Predict (Goal of Psychology)

identify future behaviors or outcomes based on observed patterns

Change (goal of psychology)

Modify or control wanted or unwanted behaviors through therapy or other behavioral methods

Informed Consent

an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

Confidentiality

Identities are kept private

Protection from harm

the right of research participants to be protected from physical or psychological risk

Debriefing

the post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants

clinical psychologist

a psychologist who diagnoses and treats people with emotional disturbances

case study

an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

naturalistic observation

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

correlational study

a research project designed to discover the degree to which two variables are related to each other

correlation coefficient

a statistical measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other. A number from -1 to +1

positive correlation

A correlation where as one variable increases, the other also increases, or as one decreases so does the other. Both variables move in the same direction.

no correlation

There is no relationship between data sets.

negative correlation

the relationship between two variables in which one variable increases as the other variable decreases

Correlation vs. Causation

correlation does not equal causation. Correlations predict future events. Causation explains why one variable impacts another.

Scientific Method

A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.

experiment

A method of investigation used to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships by purposely manipulating one factor thought to produce change in another factor.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

independent variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

dependent variable

The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

random sample

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Population in psychological research

the entire group of individuals that a researcher wants to study and to which they want to generalize their findings

random assignment

assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups

experimental group

In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.

control group

In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

operational definition

a statement of the procedures used to define research variables

Ethics in Psychology

rules of conduct recognized as appropriate to psychology and way of life to protect the wellbeing of participants of psychological research.