Psychology: Experimentation and Ethics

Hypothesis (definition)

Thesis/idea/statement that an experimenter expects to be the results of the idea proposed

A hypothesis must be:

testable, measurable, quantifiable, able to be replicated

Example of a hypothesis:

girls have faster reactions than boys in gym class when they are told they are being graded

Population (definition)

The total of subjects/participants that are qualified to be studied within a hypothesis

Sample (definition)

A manageable number of subjects chosen to be studied

What is an average sample size in psychology?

50

Subject (definition)

animals being studied

participant (definition)

human being studied

Operational Definitions (definition)

Specifies how a concept/variable is observed/measured, and are established with the hypothesis and populations

Operational Definitions (examples from hypothetical reaction time experiment)

Population: genetic females/males within a specific age; gym class: must be a supervised class in public elementary school; reactions: measured by a speed of contact and distance, and the item being used to test must be dropped from the same height.

Independent variable (definition)

The variable that is changed between experimental groups

Dependent variable (definition)

The factor that is being observed/tested for

What is the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable?

The independent variable affects the dependent variable

Confounding/Extraneous Variables (definition)

Undesired factors that change the DV.

How/when are confounding variables identified?

They are often identified after the experiment, as they can cause errors during the study. They may also be viewed as uncontrollable but accepted influences

Random Assignment (definition)

The sample being randomly divided/split into experimental/control groups

Experimental Group (definition)

a group of subjects being tested where variables are changed to observe the results. The IV is applied, and the DV is measured.

Control Group (definition)

a group of subjects where the IV is not changed to see the results

Experimental group and control group examples:

Boys and girls would be randomly assigned into each group. The experimental group would consist of kids who know they are being graded, and the control group consists of kids who do not know they are being graded.

Single Blind Study (definition)

Designed so that only the participants don't know which group they are a part of

Double Blind Study (definition)

Designed so that neither the experimenters or participants know which group everyone is in.

How are double blind studies carried out?

Participants may be scheduled randomly, given numerical labels, or automated measuring devices are used

Comparing results of an experiment

If the experimental group shows that the IV changed the behavior, there may be a connection between the IV and DV.

What is a connection between the IV and DV

Either a correlation or causation.

Placebo (definition)

something given to a group that has no effect

Field Experiments (definition)

Performed away from a lab, aka out in the real world

Field Experiments Survey Method

Uses questions that are assembled to collect answers, and uses them as a research to observe behavior, feelings, or opinion patterns

Survey method Sample

A group of people that need to be chosen to give the questions to. It usually consists of a general proportion of ages, sexes, races, and classes

survey method Advantages

If the sample is appropriate, accuracy can be high; large amounts of people can be surveyed; results can be broken down into geographical/logistical groups

Field Experiments Disadvantages

Low response rate = inaccurate results and not enough opinions

Field Experiments Question Structures

This is how questions are asked, and they can be biased, which skewers results

Naturalistic Observation (definition)

Research where the subjects do not know they are being studied

Naturalistic Observation Method

The experimenter observes daily activity and records behavior

Naturalistic Observation Advantages

Experiment/control bias is kept to a minimum in terms of interventions

Naturalistic Observation Disadvantages

Experimenter cannot talk with subject, so any questions about a behavior cannot be asked

Interview Method (definition)

Face to face asking/answering process

Interview Method Advantages

Detailed information gained, including info gained beyond what the questions are asking due to the personal nature of the method

Interview Method Disadvantages

Subjects may be lying, or they may try to defend their behaviors in a favorable way. Participants have been shown to respond in certain ways depending on who the interviewer is.

Case Study Method (definitions)

Intensive research to develop a background/past history to prepare a subject for psychological treatment

Case Study Advantages

Very detailed; finding out what might have happened early in life can help determine current problems.

Case Study Disadvantages

Distortion of the facts is a factor

Psychological Tests (definition)

A standard set of questions/answers

Psychological Tests example

IQ test

Psychological Tests Advantages

Due to the fixed questions/answers, personal bias is avoided

Psychological Tests Disadvantages

Not as objective in real life areas, and results of a cognitive test can be exploited

Ethics vs Morals?

Morals are standards that come from personal beliefs, while ethics are professional standards that must be followed regardless of subjective beliefs

How must an experiment be approved?

It must follow the APA's ethical guidelines, which give parameters on right/wrong. It also must be reviewed by an ethics board

6 Basic Ethical Principals:

Must not harm humans, must not break any laws, must obtain informed consent before with a debrief after, any deception must be revealed after the experiment, individual results must be kept confidential, and harm to animals is allowed if it is for the greater human good.

Consent in experiments vs naturalistic observations

People need to know they are in an experiment, but they do not need to be informed about being observed

When is deception okay?

You can deceive participants as long as they know how they are lied to after. This can keep bias out of experiments.

When are animals allowed to be harmed in experiments?

If it is for the greater human good, there are no other alternatives, and benefits outweigh the harm

Why use animals instead of humans?

Processes that underlie behavior in animals and humans are similar, animals are worthy of study for their own sake, animal behavior is simpler to understand, there are less expectations of treatment.