BES3144 Finals

gluck behsci batch 2026

Description

Psychologists are always asked to say something about an individual. Traits, the type of character, his capabilities etc. Describing the behavior in a scientific way.

Ex. Administration of psychological test

Explanation/Understanding

A psychologist gives an elucidation of the determinants of behavior so that people may understand the ‘why’ of the behavior.

Ex. Psychologist being invited as a resource person to shed light.  

Prediction

give the outcome or the consequences

Ex. Entrance exam as a predictor of GPA, employee/ SEAFARER’S exam.  

Control

prevent or give solutions behavior and mental processes

Ex. How to control chain smoking, substance abuse, gambling. Psychotherapy, psychoeducation, etc.

Scientific Method

A system for reducing bias and error in the measurement of data. A way to accomplish the goals of psychology

Theory

A potential explanation (for an observation or phenomenon).

Hypothesis

A verifiable prediction intended to put a given theory to the test 

tentative statement about the relationship between variables

Verifiable

meaning we can observe and measure them

Formulating Testable Questions

The first step is derived from the goal of description: What is happening there?

Develop a Hypothesis

The second step is to form a tentative answer or explanation for the behavior you have seen.

Testing the Hypothesis

The method you use for this depend on what kind of answer you think you might get.

All about the goal of explanation for behavior.

Drawing Conclusions

Once you know the results of your hypothesis testing, you will find that either your H is supported (experiment worked) or weren’t supported.

Report Your Results

You have come to some conclusion about your investigation’s success or failure and you want to let other researchers know what you have found.

Case Study

It is a descriptive record of an individual’s experiences and/or behaviors kept by an outside observer.

No manipulation of antecedent conditions.

The Genain Quadruplets

An example of a Case Study

Phenomenology

Involves a close examination of the experiences and meaning-making activities

Rather than looking at behaviors and events that are external to us, it begins with our own experience as a source of data.

Data Analysis

recording, transcribing, coding, looking for themes

Themes

are recurring patterns of meaning (ideas, thoughts, feelings) throughout the text.

Nico Canoy and M.A. Ofreneo

Wrote “Becoming And Being Hiv-Positive: The Subjective Experience Of Young Filipino Gay Men Living With Hiv”

Field Study

Is a non-experimental approach used in the field or in real life settings.

Combine various types of data gathering to capitalize on the richness and range of behavior found outside the laboratory.

Capture behavior in a real–life setting and natural environment.

Observational Methods

The act of recognizing and noting facts and occurrences

Direct Observation

observe behavior “present” while it occurs.

Intervention

refers to change or create a context for observation

Naturalistic Observation

Is the technique of observing behaviors as they occur spontaneously in natural settings.

Usually participants are not aware that their behavior is being observed.

Descriptive Method

Margaret Mead

used Naturalistic Observation to research the way of life of different tribes living on islands in the South Pacific.

Kathy Sylva

used Naturalistic Observation to study children at play by observing their behavior in a playgroup in Oxfordshire.

Participant Observation

A variant of natural observations, but here, the researcher joins in and becomes part of the group they are studying to get a deeper insight into their lives.

Can be either covert or overt.

Covert

where the study is carried out ‘undercover'. The researcher's real identity and purpose are kept concealed from the group being studied.

Overt

researcher reveals his or her true identity and purpose to the group and asks permission to observe.

Leon Festinger

Conducted a famous study into a religious cult who believed that the end of the world was about to occur.

Controlled Observation

The researcher decides where the observation will take place, at what time, with which participants, in what circumstances and uses a standardized procedure.

Participants are randomly allocated to each independent variable group.

Mary Ainsworth

used a behavior schedule to study how infants responded to brief periods of separation from their mothers.

the study is known as Strange Situation

Event Sampling

The observer decides in advance what types of behavior (events) she is interested in and records all occurrences. All other types of behavior are ignored.

Time Sampling

The observer decides in advance that observation will take place only during specified time periods (e.g. 10 minutes every hour, 1 hour per day) and records the occurrence of the specified behavior during that period only.

Instantaneous (target time) sampling

The observer decides in advance the pre-selected moments when observation will take place and records what is happening at that instant. Everything happening before or after is ignored.

Survey

Techniques of interviews and questionnaires are used in field settings

Can be used to investigate the characteristics, behaviors, or opinions of a group/person

Mail

An example might include an alumni survey distributed via direct __ by your alma mater.

Telephone

a market research call about your experiences with a certain consumer product.

Online

might focus on your experience with a particular retailer, product, or website.

At home interviews

Government aided interviews

Correlational Research

Is one that is designed to determine the degree of relationship between two or more traits, behaviors or events.

Can be used with both laboratory and field data.

Variable

Any observable behavior, characteristic, or event that can vary or have different values

factors that can vary in ways that can be observed, measured, and verified.

Scatterplot

visual representation of the data. researcher’s first step toward analyzing correlational data.

Regression Line/Line of Best Fit

the line drawn on the scatterplots

Simple Correlation

Relationships between pairs of scores from each subject

Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient

the most commonly used procedure for calculating simple correlations.

Positive Direct Relationship

Direction of Correlation

When X goes up, Y also goes up.

Ex. College Exam score & GPA, Height and weight, education and income

Negative Inverse Relationship

Direction of Correlation

When X goes up, Y goes down.

Ex. Education and prejudice

Zero/No Correlation

Direction of Correlation

Changes in X don’t predict changes in Y

Linear

A straight relationship is called __, because it approximates a straight line

Curvilinear Correlation

one variable increases as the other increases until the relationship between X and Y that begins as positive becomes negative.

Correlation Coefficient

measures the degree (strength) of the relationship between two variables. The measures we discuss only measure the strength of the linear relationship between two variables.

-1.00

The value of Perfect Negative Correlation

-0.60

The value of Strong Negative Correlation

-0.30

The value of Moderate Negative Correlation

-0.10

The value of Weak Negative Correlation

.00

The value of No Correlation

+0.10

The value of Weak Positive Correlation

+0.30

The value of Moderate Positive Correlation

+0.60

The value of Strong Positive Correlation

+1.00

The value of Perfect Positive Correlation

Prediction

Where and Why we use Correlation

If two variables have been known in the past to correlate, then we can assume they will continue to correlate in the future. We can use the value of one variable that is known now to __ the value that the other variable will take on in the future.

Validity

Where and Why we use Correlation

Suppose we have developed a new test of intelligence. We can determine if it is really measuring intelligence by correlating the new test's scores with, for example, the scores that the same people get on standardized IQ tests, or their scores on problem solving ability tests, or their performance on learning tasks, etc.

Reliability

Where and Why we use Correlation

For example, we could administer our new IQ test on two different occasions to the same group of people and see what the correlation is. If the correlation is high, the test is __. If it is low, it is not.

Theory Verification

Where and Why we use Correlation

For example, it is predicted that parents and children's intelligence are positively related. We can test this prediction by administering IQ tests to the parents and their children, and measuring the correlation between the two scores.

Ex-Post Facto Study

means “after the fact”

The researcher is interested in the effects of traits, behaviors or naturally occurring events that cannot or should not be manipulated by a researcher.

Quasi-Experimental Research

Ex-Post Facto Study is sometimes known as this

Survey Method

Designed to investigate opinions, behaviors, or characteristics of a particular group. Usually in self-report form/survey questionnaire or an interview.

Instrument

a carefully pretested questionnaire. Easier to administer, more economical and ensure the anonymity of respondents.

Sampling

should be representative of the population being studied

Longitudinal Study

Involves study, over time, of a group of people, or of samples from the same population, using records, interviews, or both.

Studies which extend over a long period, which are prospective.

The best survey design when a researcher wishes to assess the effect of some naturally occurring event

Cross-Sectional Study

involves looking at data from a population at one specific point in time. The participants in this type of study are selected based on particular variables of interest.

Experiment

method of data collection designed to test hypotheses under controlled conditions

True Experiment

attempts to isolate cause and effect and to eliminate alternative explanations of observed relationships between variables.

Independent Variable

Hypothesized to cause an effect on another variable; Manipulated or non-manipulated factor

Also known as exogenous variable

Extraneous Variable

can also affect change in the measure of DV

is a factor that is, by design, not manipulated by the experimenter

Dependent Variable

The measured facts; Hypothesized to be affected

Also known as endogenous variable

Control Group (CG)

does not receive the treatment. Not exposed to the intervention

Experimental Group (EG)

receives the treatment. Exposed to the intervention.

Null Hypothesis (Ho)

A statement of no difference. that the performance of EG is similar with the other groups.

Alternative Hypothesis (H1) (Ha)

A statement that the results of experiment from groups are not equal.

Identifying a Research Problem

The first step in conducting an experimental research

The process starts by clearly identifying what you want to study and considering what possible methods will affect a solution.

Planning

The second step in conducting an experimental research

Devise an experiment to test your hypothesis.

Conducting an Experiment

The third step in conducting an experimental research

At the start of an experiment, the control and treatment groups must be selected.

Analyze the Data

The fourth step in conducting an experimental research

Collect and __ the data.

Report the Results

The fifth/final step in conducting an experimental research

You will want to share your findings by publishing academic papers.

Random Sample

every member of the population being studied should have an equal chance of being selected for the study

Random Assignment

every subject in the study should have an equal chance of being placed in either the experimental or control group

Expectancy Effects

change in DV produced by subject’s expectancy that change should happen

Demand Characteristics

subtle cues or signals by the researcher that communicate type of responses are expected

Double Blind Procedures

Expectancy effects and demand characteristics are both controlled through the use of __

Preparedness

will be able to provide the resources that the team needs to move the conversation toward a common goal

Ability to Set Guidelines

allows the group to share a common goal. Progress is often made more quickly when everyone on the team understands the guidelines and knows what the facilitator wants.

Active Listening

This involves giving each member of the team your full attention. People contribute more when they feel like they are being heard.

Time Management

When goals must be met or ideas need to be created by a deadline, this is is necessary to keep everyone focused. A facilitator uses their skills to ensure that progress is being made during a group project or meeting.

Neutrality

ability to stay unbiased during a team effort.

Flexibility

is the ability to adapt to change. A facilitator can do this by adapting to the current outlook and mindset of the team whenever necessary

Effective Communication Skills

An excellent facilitator is one who knows not only how to speak comfortably in front of an audience but can also convey the meeting process in a simple, concise manner.

Keen Observational Skills

Able to pick up on small gestures, glances and facial expressions that can all point to the individual’s honest reaction and/or opinion.

Promotes Constructive Feedback

In order to ensure participants are not caving into one person’s idea(s), the facilitator will challenge the group by posing questions to either help them think more broadly, deeper or wider.