RESEARCH METHOD Psychology: chapter 2

Exam 1 review

scientific method

1. Theory

2. Hypothesis

3. Operational Definitions

4. Replication

Theory

explanation to describe a group of facts.

Hypothesis

Specific Testable prediction

Operational Definitions:

The procedures used in research (defining)

Replication

Repeating a study to see if the original findings generalize to other participants and situations. (do we have diff results?)

Descriptive studies

Cannot determine cause and effect

1. Case Study

2. Survey

3. Naturalistic Observation

4. Correlation

Case Study and what are the limits

In depth study of one person or a very small group (used to generate hypothesis

What is its limits?

-       Informative, not representative

-       Easy to make false conclusions

-       Often longitudinal

Survey and what are the limits?

asking people questions about: thoughts, behavior, attitudes, beliefs.

 

What is its limits?

-       Sampling errors (has to reflect the population)

-       response rate (we wants atleast 50% response rate)

-       Social desirability (people tend to lie to fit into society)

Naturalistic Observation and what are the limits?

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without direct intervention.

 

What is its limitations?

-       Does not explain behavior (simply something we have seen)

-       Participants cannot know they are being observed

Correlation

A statistical measure of the extent to which 2 or more factors predict each other.

 

We use correlation when experiments are impossible, unethical, or can’t be controlled.

(example intelligence and achievement)

Correlation: the “r” statistic means?

indicates the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables, ranging from –1.00 to +1.00, and does not imply causation.

if two things have a correlation of +.54 with each other, what does this mean

r = +.54

·       Positive relationship

·       Moderately strong

·       As one variable increases, the other tends to increase

·       ❌ Does NOT mean one causes the other

Direction (sign of r) if positive

• Positive r (+)
  → As one variable increases, the other increases
  (ex: study time & grades)

Direction (sign of r) if negative and when zero

• (ex: study time & grades)

• Negative r (–)
  → As one variable increases, the other decreases
  (ex: stress & sleep)

• r = 0
  → No relationship

Experimentation def

Manipulation of one or more factors (independent Variable) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (dependent Variable)

Experimental process

• Experimental condition: exposes participants to the experiment treatment

• Control Condition → what the experimental group is compared to

• Random Assignment → how participants are placed into groups

• Independent Variable → what is manipulated

• Dependent Variable → what is measured

• experimental condition

• exposes participants to the experiment treatment

Control condition

(comparison) evaluates the effect of the treatment.

Serves as a baseline so researchers can compare results and determine whether the treatment caused any changes. does not receive the treatment or independent variable.

Random assignment:

process of placing participants into different experimental groups by chance (Flipping a coin, drawing names from a hat, Using a random number generator)

Independent Variable (IV) →

what the researcher manipulates

Dependent Variable (DV) →

what is measured