Experimental psych
Research and Knowledge Acquisition
Understanding the purpose of research
Research is conducted to gain knowledge and insights.
The focus is on establishing relationships between various variables.
Scientific Methods in Research
/
Definition of scientific methods
Scientific methods are structured processes used to investigate phenomena and uncover facts.
The goal is to understand relationships and connections between different variables.
Research Topics and Ideas in Psychology
Emphasizing brainstorming
Importance of brainstorming research topics in psychology courses.
Encouragement for students to leverage past psychology coursework for ideas.
Establishing Relationships in Research
Focus on relationships as a core component of any psychological study.
An emphasis on qualitative and quantitative research as the two primary branches of research.
Quantitative Results in Research
Introduction to correlation
Correlation explores the relationship between two variables, specifically how one variable's increase may affect another.
Example: Family income and its effect on various outcomes.
Correlation Explained
Definition of correlation
Correlation refers to the linear relationship between two variables.
It can help predict how the values of one variable may change in response to the change of another.
Example: Pregnancy and Alcohol Exposure
Investigation of the effects of alcohol exposure on the birth weight of rats.
Ethical concerns prevent similar studies with human subjects.
Exploring Patterns in Data
Non-linear relationships and their implications.
Curve-linear relationships as opposed to linear relationships.
Example: Stress and Performance
Low stress leads to low performance; high stress also leads to low performance.
An optimal stress level is identified as a peak performance point.
Data Visualization
Importance of scatterplots in illustrating relationships.
A scatterplot can show varying points with outcomes that do not fit a linear pattern.
Example: Scatterplots illustrating varying outcomes based on x (indépendent) and y (dependent) values.
Distinction between strong and weak correlations based on the shape of data in scatterplots.
Correlation Coefficient (r)
Understanding the correlation coefficient (r)
r values range from -1.0 to 1.0 indicating the strength and direction of a relationship.
A narrow oval shape in a scatterplot indicates a stronger correlation.
Wide shapes indicate weaker correlations.
Real-world examples of correlation coefficients
Strong positive correlation example: $r = 0.76 $
Weak negative correlation (example: ).
Correlation is Not Causation
Key principle in research
Just because two variables are correlated does not mean one causes the other.
Requires controlled experimental studies to establish causation.
Experimental Study Design
Introduction to experimental design
Experimental studies involve manipulation of variables to observe outcomes.
Random assignment is critical for controlling confounding variables.
Conducting Experimental Research
Importance of independent and dependent variables
Independent variable: the manipulated variable
Dependent variable: the observed outcome which cannot be manipulated directly.
The significance of random assignment in experimental design.
Ethical Considerations in Research
Highlighting the ethical implications of conducting research, especially with sensitive subjects.
Importance of respecting subjects' decisions and autonomy in experimental setups.
Terminology Usage in Research
Clarification on terms that should not be used in social scientific discourse (e.g., “prove” or “disprove”).
Social sciences can provide findings and evidence, but not absolute proofs due to complexity and variability in human behavior.
Additional Considerations on Research in Social Sciences
Noting the existence of exceptions to research findings, emphasizing variability in human behavior.
Introduction to the concepts of positive deviance and studying outliers in research.
Collaborative Team Discussions
Encouragement for group brainstorming and collaboration on research ideas.
Suggestions to narrow down research topics via group input and discussions.
Communicating the necessity of ethical considerations when conducting surveys or experiments.