Ch. 2

Scientific Method

To understand the world through empirical evidence rather than intuition. World is intelligible and process is hard

Description

Define, classify, catalogue, or categorize events. We have to get a sence of what is that variable.

Prediction

When two things are correlated, they’re said to covary; Doesn’t mean one thing causes the other thing. Relate, Associate.

Probabilistic

Chance could be wrong, relying on probability stats

Explanation

Determining causes; Hallmark of research design. IV: Manipulate DV: Measure

Causality

Control/manipulate one IV at a time to determine impact on DV; Covariation, Time-order relationship, elimination of plausible alternatives: confounding variable

Covariation

We have an association, correlation, the two things go together

Time-order relationship (aka contingency)

Between two things, one thing came before the other. Manipulating the IV before measuring DV.

Elimination of Plausible Alternatives: Confounding Variables

May be able to explain what’s going on; ex. background knowledge brought onto the course is a potential compound.

Basic Research

To understand behavior and its processes; seeking knowledge for its own sake. (Application)

Applied Research

Conduct research to solve practical problems/find real world solutions. (Application)

Specific Research Questions

To be answerable with a single research project or sets of projects.

Important Research Questions

Things that matter to science, community, and must be relevant to science.

Contribute Research Questions

Shouldn’t waste resources or time, should be a question that can be answered and contribute to science

Study the literature

To know about the topic, science is cumulative. Current research builds on previous findings.

Hypothesis

Predictions of what new things are going to happen, an explanation for the connection between two or more variables whether one thing is causing another.

Operational

Expains construct/variable in terms of observable procedures used; may vary among studies/researchers.

Falsifiable

Ideas recognized by science - chance of being wrong

Good Hypothesis

A statement of the way in which variables are predicted to be related. Starts with a grasp of existing research, make a testable prediction, adequately define constructs: variables, and are not circular - things not already defined.

Journal Articles

High impact factor peer-reviewed journals are the gold standard: empirical paper, literature review, meta-analysis, theory article.

Picture Superiority Effect

Memory for pictures is superior to memory for words.

Meta-analysis

Allows researchers to draw statistical conclusions from multiple studies of a single research question.

Theory

A systematic, coherent, and logically consistent body of ideas about a particular topic or phenomenon.

Research Question

A description of the broad topic of study, in question form; first step in designing and conducting a research investigation.

Literature Reviews

A written summary and evaluation of the existing literature on a specific topic; Systematic review or systematic literature.

Theory Articles

Summarize and integrate research to provide a new framework for understanding a phenomenon.

Empirical Research Articles

Report of a study in which data were gathered to help answer a research question.

Abstract

Brief summary of research. 150-250 words, easy way to determine if study is relevant, info about hypothesis, procedure, and broad patterns of results.

Introduction

Explains the problem under investigation and the specific hypothesis being tested. Start broadly and narrow study method. Formal hypothesis, how past research and theory are connected to current research and expected results.

Method

Describes in detail the exact procedures used in the study. Divided into subsections: overview of design, characteristics of participants, procedure used, allowing other researchers to replicate study.

Results

Findings are presented: narrative form, described in statistical language, and depicted in tables and graphs.

Discussion

Broader implications of results, propose alternative explanations, discuss reasons a particular hypothesis may not be supported by data, and/or make suggestions for further research on the problem. Recap results and general info: Method and Results.

Peer-Review

Experts in the field evaluate quality of the research.

APA PsychInfo

A digital database of abstracts of articles in psychology, indexed by topic, updated weekly and maintained by the American Psychological Association. APA Thesaurus.

Predatory Publisher

Journals published with a fee without peer-reviewed.

Impact Factor

Thinking broadly, an indicator of the prestige of a journal, somewhat open to interpretation. Ratio score.