BSC201 Notes Midterm Test

BSC201 Psychology: Measurement, Design, and Analysis

• Lecture 2/3/4: Basic concepts, validity, reliability
• Learning objectives:
  • Understand basic concepts in experimental design and assessment
  • Recognize psychology as a science
  • Comprehend ethical considerations

INTERNATIONAL EDITION RESEARCH METHODS CONCEPTS AND CONNECTIONS

• Chapter 1, parts of Chapters 3 and 2

Lecture Topic Today

• Introduction to the basic language and concepts in experimental design and analysis

What is Science?

• Definition: The systematic study of behavior through observation and experimentation
• Components:
  • Objective observation of nature
  • Rational thought to establish general rules
  • Formulation and testing of hypotheses based on evidence

Problems with applying science to psychology

• Leap between physical and mental world
  • Operational definition
  • Construct validity
• Treatment impact on behavior
  • Independent variable (IV)
  • Dependent variable (DV)
  • Confound
• Generalizability of results
  • External validity
  • Limits to generalizability
  • Mundane realism and psychological realism
• Ethical concerns
  • Milgram's Obedience Studies
  • Zimbardo's Prison Study

Ethical Considerations

• APA Guidelines for the Ethical Treatment of Subjects
  • Informed Consent
  • Freedom from Harm

Freedom from Harm

• Study on the effect of catecholamine precursor depletion on cocaine craving, euphoria, and self-administration
• Methodology:
  • Acute phenylalanine-tyrosine depletion (APTD)
  • Impact on drug craving, euphoria, and self-administration
• Results suggest a link between cocaine craving and catecholamine neurotransmission

Berkun, Bialek, Kern, and Yagi (1967)

• Study on experimental arousal of fear of death or injury to self
• Objective: To expose individuals to a hostile environment and monitor their responses

Conclusion

• Understanding the basics of experimental design, validity, reliability, and ethical considerations is crucial in the field of psychology.

Ethics and APA Guidelines

• Informed Consent
  • Ensuring participants are informed about the study.
• Freedom from Harm
  • Protecting participants from physical or psychological harm.
  • Referenced studies by Berkun, Bialek, Kern, Yagi, and Milgram.
• Confidentiality
  • Distinguishing between confidential and anonymous data.
  • Importance of specifying "will not" versus "can not" disclose information.
• Humphrey's Study
  • Possibly a case study related to ethical considerations.

Debriefing and Experimental Design

• Debriefing
  • Post-study discussion with participants.
• Basic Concepts of Experimental Design
  • Psychology as a science.

Measuring Variables: Reliability and Validity

• Introduction to issues surrounding the measurement of abstract concepts
• Sources of error and bias in the experimental context
• Assessment of reliability

Understanding Measurement Issues

• Definition of a concept in terms of operations
• Difference between concept and operational definition

Sources of Error and Bias

• Bias:
  • Experimenter/observer
  • Administration of the experiment
  • Participant
• Random Error:
  • Random fluctuations
  • Assessment of error

Experimenter/Observer Bias

• Experimenter bias
• Observer bias
• Ways to reduce bias:
  • Objectivity
  • Observer training
  • Motivation of raters
  • Keeping observers blind

Sources of Bias

• Experimenter/Observer
• Administration of the Experiment
• Participant bias
• Ways to reduce participant bias

Assessing the Measure

• Construct validity
• Discriminant validity
• Convergent validity
• Face Validity
• Criterion-Oriented Validity
• Types of criterion-oriented validity:
  • Predictive validity
  • Concurrent validity
  • Convergent validity
  • Discriminant validity

Interpersonal Attraction Scale Items

• Various statements related to future interaction partners
• Assessing preferences