Interactive Textbook Video Notes from CHAPTER 5- Psych Research

Fallacies and Arguments in Psychological Research

• Psychology aims to gain insights through logic, reason, and arguments.

• Confidence in conclusions depends on the strength of the supporting arguments.

Straw Man Argument

• Definition: Distracting from one's own argument by focusing on and misrepresenting someone else's argument.

• Purpose: To build support for one's own argument by discrediting an alternative.

• Example:

  • Student: Agrees with some of Pauline Hanson's arguments about refugee channels.

  • Professor (Straw Man): Accuses the student of supporting racism, misrepresenting the student's nuanced view.

Popularity Fallacy (Appeal to Popularity)

• Definition: Assuming something is true simply because it is widely accepted or popular.

• Influence of Social Media: Popularity can be amplified by social media, leading to the acceptance of false information.

• Example: False news spreading rapidly and being believed due to its popularity, regardless of its validity.

• Importance of Skepticism: Need to check the credibility of sources to support arguments.

Principles of Good Psychological Research

• Representative Sample: Ensure the sample accurately reflects the target population for generalizability.

• Reliability and Validity: Measures used should be consistent and accurate.

• Replicability: Studies should be repeatable with consistent results.

• Strong Ethics: Research must adhere to ethical guidelines.

  • Informed Consent: Participants must be fully informed and consent to participate.

  • Confidentiality: Protecting the privacy of participants.

Scientific Method in Psychology

• Psychology studies human and non-human animal behavior and mental processes.

• Psychologists use the scientific method.

Steps of the Scientific Method

1. Observation and Question Formulation: Start with curiosity and formulate a research question.

2. Literature Review: Examine existing scientific journals to understand previous findings on the question.

   • Purpose: Identify relevant variables and potential explanations.

3. Hypothesis Formulation: Develop a testable statement about the relationship between variables.

   • Definition: A tentative and testable statement and possible explanation about the relationship between two or more variables.

   • Testability: Variables must be defined in ways that can be observed and measured.

Research Design

• Involves choosing the most efficient and reliable method for testing the hypothesis.

• Major Research Methods:

  • Descriptive

  • Correlational

  • Experimental

• Impact of Method Choice: The method used affects data gathering and the conclusions drawn.

• Using Multiple Methods: Enhances confidence in results when different methods yield similar findings.

Sharing Findings

• Researchers publish their results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Theory Development

• After publication, scientists may propose new theories or revise existing ones.

• Theory: Ties together accumulated data and informs future research questions.

• The research is circular in nature.