Psychology chapter 2 final part 02/20/2025

Bias in Research

• Understanding Bias

  • Bias occurs in all forms of research; there is no such thing as a bias-free study.

  • Researchers must acknowledge the presence of bias and strive to minimize it.

  • Key term: Minimize Bias.

• Methods to Minimize Bias:

  1. Random Selection

     • Each individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected for the study.

     • Example: To gather a sample of Suffolk County Community College students, a mechanism like a random number generator based on ID numbers could be used instead of selecting from specific locations.

  2. Random Assignment

     • After being selected, participants are randomly assigned to different conditions of the study.

     • Ensures each participant has an equal chance of being placed in any experimental group, preventing selection bias.

  3. Double Blind Method

     • Neither participants nor experimenters know which individuals are in which group, reducing bias from expectations or placebo effects.

     • Commonly used in medication trials (e.g., one group receives a placebo).

Research Methodologies

• Experiments

  • A core methodology in research focused on manipulating variables to observe effects.

• Descriptive Research

  • Involves observing and recording behavior. There are three types of descriptive research:

  1. Case Studies

     • Detailed examination of a single subject or a small group.

     • Advantage: Provides extensive information and insights through thorough investigation.

     • Disadvantage: Difficult to generalize findings to the broader population since it typically involves only one case.

  2. Naturalistic Observation

     • Observing subjects in their natural environment without interference.

     • Advantage: Provides data on how individuals naturally behave without influence from researchers.

     • Disadvantage: Lack of control over extraneous variables can lead to unclear results; cannot ensure accurate context for behaviors observed.

  3. Surveys

     • Structured questionnaires aimed at collecting data on specific topics.

     • Advantage: Can gather data quickly and from large numbers of people.

     • Disadvantage: Many participants may not take surveys seriously, leading to unreliable data (cannot control for extraneous variables).

Correlations

• Understanding Correlation

  • A correlation assesses the relationship between two or more variables, but correlation does not imply causation.

  • Example: With food preferences, there may be a correlation between parents shopping at health food stores and their children's health; factors like socioeconomic status can influence both aspects.

  • Always look for extraneous variables that could affect the correlation.

• Cautions Against Misinterpreting Correlation

  • Statements like "correlation never means causation" are crucial.

  • It's easy to misinterpret correlated data as one variable causing another without acknowledging is key influencing factors outside the studied variables.

• Example of Correlation:

  • Ice cream sales and shark attacks have a positive correlation, but one does not cause the other; both may be influenced by a third variable like hot weather.

Summary of Key Points

• All studies include bias; the aim in research is to minimize that bias through random selection, random assignment, and double-blinding.

• Different methodologies (experiments, descriptive research, and correlations) have their own unique benefits and drawbacks.

• Caution must be exercised in interpreting correlations to avoid assuming causation.