Chapter 2 Psychology

Naturalistic Observation

Naturalistic Observation

Observe someone or group in natural setting

Case Study

Intensive study of person/group

Example: Long term observations z/diaries, tests; interviews

Positive: much descriptive material/can prompt new hypothesis (more personal smaller sample)

Negative: can’t prove/disprove anything (hard to generalize)

Surveys

Practical for large numbers

Ex. Interviews, Questionnaires

Less personal

Longitudinal Studies

Study same group of people at regular intervals over a period of year to analyze change

time consuming, dependent on the person being there

examine consistencies/incosis. in behavior over time.

Cross-Sectional Studies

Individuals organized into groups based upon age

Groups then randomly sampled and members surveyed, tested , and observed stimuli

Less expensive than longitudinal study and less time needed

Correlation study

Examines relationship between two sets of data

Positive /negative correlation

Correlation not causation

Experiments

Investigator can control situation and decrease influence of the outside variables

APA

American Psychological Association —> Founded in 1892, is a scientific and professional society of psychologists and educators

largest association or psychologists and consists of 54 divisions each representing a specific area, type of work or research setting, or activity

Published set of principles that govern standards of proper and responsible behavior

Minimize misleading results, confidentiality, obey laws/regs, respect of rights, limit deception, consent forms, all info re: sharing provided to all participants

Baby Albert

1. Watson did research on a child known as:  Little Albert

2. What was Watson’s partner’s name? 

   1. Rosalie Reynar

3. Watson conditioned the: 

   1. To fear white rats 

4. What is ethically wrong about this?

   1. The ethically wrong part of this experiment was using a subject who has an inability to give consent or understand that they are in an experiment thus, making them unaware of the reason for their emotional stress

5. Would Watson be famous or infamous and why? (1 sentence)

   1. He would be infamous because this experiment widely agreed to be unethical because the subject is unable to give consent or comprehend the experiment.

6. How old was the child? 9 months old ___

7. List two criticisms/ethical issues

   1.  The experimental design and process were not carefully constructed because they relied on subjective interpretations of Alberts reactions 

   2.  The experiment has ethical issues because Albert was hurt and left the experiment with a previously non existent fear

Link for more info

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-little-albert-experiment-2794994

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMnhyGozLyE 

Independent and Dependent variables

• Independent:

  • the one that experimenters change or alter so they can observe its effects (the influencer)

• Dependent:

  • One that changes in relation to the independent variable (the influenced)

Jane Goodall

1. What type of research did Goodall complete? 

   1. Naturalistic Observation

2. What was the outcome or significance?

   1. The significance was that the chimpanzees would modify objects to suit specific purposes, in other words they make tool. So, you would have to redefine man and tool or group chimpanzees with humans. They additionally have a wars similarly to humans. So, overall chimpanzees and humans are very similar and that a balance should be had between humans and the natural world so we can be closer .

3. What do many infectious diseases (Zika virus, MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), AIDS and Ebola) have in common? 

   1. They all stemmed from human interference with wildlife and their  habitats. 

4. What are Goodall’s thoughts about the Pandemic?

   1. She thinks that if humans have not realized how interconnected we are than the pandemic will further prove it.In response to the rumored origin of the pandemic coming from wet markets she hopes that the trafficking and selling of wild animals for medicinal purposes would end. She believes that mistreatment of animals will be the start of the next pandemic

5. Would Goodall be famous or infamous and why? (1 sentence)

   1. Goodall would be famous because she advocates for ethical actions towards the environment and doesn’t subject humans or animals to any non consensual mental and physical abuse an example being her use of naturalistic observation when observing the chimps.

Link for more info:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/why-jane-goodall-says-human-disregard-for-nature-led-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic

Types of Samples

Random: takes a small, random portion of the entire population to represent the entire data set, where each member has an equal probability of being chosen. (sampling errors can occur)

Stratified: a sample that is drawn from a number of separate strata of the population, rather than at random from the whole population, in order that it should be representative.

Self Fulfilling Prophecy

Self-fulfilling prophecy: having expectations about a behavior and then acting in a way to carry it out

Single vs double blind experiment

–Single Blind experiment: participants don’t know if they have received test or placebo (good for measuring expectation)

–Double Blind experiment:  neither researcher nor participant know who is getting test vs. placebo (more unbiased)

Placebo Effect Def

• Change in patient’s illness or physical state that results solely from the patient’s knowledge and perception of the treatment (resembles drug/therapy) but does not have the effects

• Conditions that have shown positive responses to placebo effect:

  • pain, depression, anxiety disorder, cough, erectile dysfunction, IBS, Parkinson’s, Epilepsy

Placebo Effect (Four Factors involved)

• Four Factors involved: 

  • Expectation/conditioning

  • Effect on brain (neurotransmitter & receptors)

  • Psychoneuroimmunology (how brain impacts immune system)

  • Evolved health regulation (evolution of brain’s ability to moderate healing

Physiological impacts of Placebo Effect

• Placebos proven to impact heart rate and blood pressure

Placebo Effect (Color )

• Red, yellow, orange = stimulant effect; Blue, green = tranquilizing effect

Placebo Effect (effectiveness)

• Effectiveness: an injection causes a stronger placebo effect than a tablet, two tablets work better than one, capsules are stronger than tablets, and larger pills produce greater reactions, and  the color of pills makes a difference 

Milgram (reading, 2.2 in text, video)- main set up, what was it testing,who was in study,  results

• 1960s Yale Study - Stanley Milgram

  • -Men between the ages of 20-50 were paid to participate in experiment where they were the teacher, the thought they were shocking participants based upon incorrect answers

  • -Ind variable: level of authority exerted (verbal prods) by the experimenter

  • -Dependent variable: level of obedience demonstrated as shown by level of shocking

  • -Result: 26/40 volunteer “shockers” pushed the button until max severity….ordinary people would inflict pain on another if authority figure told them to

• Handout: “Identifying Research Methods” - #3 w/ industrial psychologists

Look over worksheet

• Handout: “Writing a hypothesis” - #1 w/ Kevin & caffeinated soda

Look over worksheet

(True or False) Human intuition is remarkably accurate and free from error

False

(True or False) Mos t people seem to lack confidence in the accuracy of their beliefs

False

(True or False) Case studies are particularly useful because of the similarities we all share

False

(True or False) We tend to overestimate the number of people who share our attitudes and beliefs

True

(True or False) The opinions of 1500 randomly selected people can provide a very accurate picture of the opinions of an entire nation

False

(True or False) The purpose of the experiment is to recreate behaviors exactly as they occur in everyday life

False

(True or False) An analysis of the research indicates that psychologists have sometimes unnecessarily caused extreme pain to animals

False

(True or False) As a science, psychology is objective and value-free

False

Whats is a Hypothesis

A statement that explains what research question is being explored and what outcome is expected between variables (Look at writing a hypothesis handout for examples)

Who designed the standard prison experiment?

Zimbardo

What was the Stanford Prison Experiment Studying

If the brutality report among guards where due to sadistic nature or prison environment

How was the Stanford Experiment designed

Students where recruited through an ad and then arrested in their dorms and forced to strip naked once they arrived. (there where 10 prisoners and 11 guards who participated in the prison simulation)

Who participated in the Stanford Experiment

10 prisoners/11 guards = Stanford University Students

Warden = Zimbardo himself

What was the Main Outcomes of the Stanford Experiment

Guards actions where dependent on the environment

> Guards/Prisoners adapted within hours