Psychology

Clever Hans experiment

Clever Hans was an Orlov Trotter horse that was claimed to have been able to perform arithmetic and other intellectual tasks. After a formal investigation in 1907, psychologist Oskar Pfungst demonstrated that the horse was not actually performing these mental tasks, but was watching the reaction of his human observers. Pfungst discovered this artifact in the research methodology, wherein the horse was responding directly to involuntary cues in the body language of the human trainer, who had the faculties to solve each problem. The trainer was entirely unaware that he was providing such cues. Hans effect continued to be important knowledge in the observer-expectancy effect and later studies in animal cognition.

Psychology's Main Goal

To develop explanations for behavior and mental processes...explain why we do what we do.

Theories

Solid empirical studies are called?

Scientific Method

The scientific method is a 5 step

process for empirical investigation

of a hypothesis, under conditions

designed to control biases and

subjective judgments

Empirical investigation

is the

collecting of objective information,

firsthand, by making careful

measurements based on direct

experience.

1. Hypothesis

A statement predicting the outcome of a

scientific study or describing the relationship among

variables in a study.

variable

A variable is anything that can vary

among participants in a study

hypotheses

must be testable and falsifiable, or shown

to be either supported or incorrect

Falsifiability

a feature of a scientific theory, in which it is possible to collect data that will prove the theory wrong

(Hypo) Operational Definition

describes exactly what the

variables are and how they are measured within the

context of your study

Operational Definitions

if you were doing a study on the impact

of sleep deprivation on driving performance, you

would need to operationally define what you mean

by sleep deprivation and driving performance

2. Performing a controlled test

A hypothesis must

undergo rigorous tests before it will be accepted as a

legitimate theory

Independent Variable

A stimulus condition that the experimenter

changes independently of all other carefully controlled conditions in the

experiment

3. Gathering objective data

getting information

by direct observation that relies only on the

independent variable and not on the experimenter's

hopes. This data is called the dependent variable

Dependent Variable

The measured outcome of a study, or

the response of the subjects in the study

Independent Variable vs.

Dependent Variable

Independent Variable (IV) = stimulus or cause

Dependent

Variable (DV) = response or effect

4. Analyzing the Results:

This step consists of looking at

the data collected and seeing if it supports or disproves

the hypothesis.

5. Publishing, Criticizing and Replicating

the Results

to have the results withstand the

criticism and scrutiny of the science

community.

Replicate

To do a study over to see if the

same results are obtained

applied research

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

basic research

questions that

you may be curious

about, but not intended

to be immediately used

Experimental Method

A kind of research in which the

researcher controls and manipulates the conditions

including the IV

Steps in designing an experiment

1. Hypothesis

2. Pick Population: Random Selection then Random Assignment.

3. Operationalize the Variables

4. Identify Independent and Dependent Variables.

5. Look for Extraneous Variables

6. Type of Experiment: Blind, Double Blind etc..

7. Gather Data

8. Analyze Results

Confounding Variables

Variables that have

unwanted influence on the outcome of an

experiment

Random Selection

procedure that ensures every person in the sample has an equal chance of being chosen to for the experimental group

Random Sample

A sample group of subjects

selected by chance, or without biased selection

techniques

Representative Sample

A sample obtained in such

a way that it reflects the

distribution of important

variables in the larger

population in which the

researcher are

interested-variables such

as age, SES, ethnicity,

education....

Ex post facto

Research in which we choose

subjects based on a pre-existing condition.

Correlation Studies

researchers try to show the

relationship or correlation between two variables.

Illusory Correlation

the perception of a relationship where none exists

Positive Correlation

The variables go in the

SAME direction

Negative Correlation

The variables go in

opposite directions.

survey

a research

method where questions

are asked to subjects who

report their own answers

Naturalistic Observation

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