Lecture 2 - Psychological Research

Question 1

Why is research important?

Answer 1

• Mandatory process in validating claims
  Requires: Investigation & Verification

Question 2

Empiricism

Answer 2

Emphasizes the role of experience, sensory perception & observation in gaining knowledge
- Sensory data is considered the foundation for understanding the world (the Five Senses)

Question 3

Basic Research

Answer 3

• Acquiring general knowledge about a particular phenomenon

Question 4

Applied Research

Answer 4

Investigations are made on everyday issues
- Direct applications to problems

Question 5

Scientific Explanations:

Answer 5

Empirical, Rational, & Parsimonious

Question 6

Use of Research Information

Answer 6

Advertising campaigns often claim to be based on “scientific evidence” but, in reality, are often base don belief.

Question 7

Empirical

Answer 7

Based on evidence from any of the five senses
- Testable & replicable

Question 8

Rational

Answer 8

Following the rules of logic
- Consistent with known facts

Question 9

Parsimonious

Answer 9

The most acceptable explanation of phenomenon, or event is the simplest, involving the fewest entities, assumptions, or changes

Question 10

Scientific Method

Answer 10

Test ideas (theory/hypothesis) against the real world using empirical methods
- Collected data from research lead to move ideas that are tested against the real world

Question 11

Deductive Reasoning

Answer 11

• “Top down”
  A theory or idea about the world informs the collection of data
• General Principle -> Application, Logical Extension, Hypothetical Case

Question 12

Inductive Reasoning

Answer 12

• “Bottom Up”
  Data informs development of a theory or idea about the world
  General Conclusion <- Observation, Ideas from Authority, Past Experience

Question 13

Process of Scientific Research

Answer 13

Question/Observation -> Research topic area -> Hypothesis -> Test with experiment ->Analyze Data -> Report conclusions -> Cycle repeats again
OR test by observation, surveying, other methods

Question 14

Forming Hypotheses

Answer 14

A testable prediction
- Must be testable & falsifiable
- Created before the experiment

Question 15

Operationalizing Variables

Answer 15

Defining variables and how they will be measured

Question 16

Structure of Psychological Science

Answer 16

Method: How we test our hypotheses

Analyze Data: Uses quantitative data or qualitative data analysis methods to organize data and reject the hypothesis

Reporting Findings: What do the results mean? Compare to other, similar research

Publish (or not): Publication bias aka the file drawer effect.

Process starts all over again.

Question 17

Components of Research Methods

Answer 17

• Subjects/Participants
  Study Design & Procedures
• Descriptive v. Experimental or Quasi experimental
• Longitudinal v. Cross-sectional

Question 18

Population

Answer 18

An overall group of individuals that the researcher is interested in

Question 19

Sample

Answer 19

A subset of individuals selected from the larger population

Question 20

Participants

Answer 20

Subjects of psychological research

Question 21

Random Selection

Answer 21

Any individual in the target population has an qual chance of being selected for sample

Question 22

Reliability

Answer 22

A measure’s ability to consistently produce a given result

Question 23

Surveys

Answer 23

A list of questions that can be delivered by:
- Paper & pencil
- Electronically
- Verbally

Uses different scales/methods of asking & used to gather a large amount of data from a sample (subset of individuals) from a larger population

Question 24

Validity

Answer 24

A measure’s ability to accurately measure what it is designed to measure
- A valid measure will always be reliable, but a reliable measure is not always valid

Question 25

Clinical or Case Studies

Answer 25

Focus on ONE individual or animal
- Allows for a lot of insight into a case
- Difficult to generalize results to the larger population

Question 26

Types of Reliability

Answer 26

Test re-test: Does the same test give the same results every time when taken by same participants?

Inter-rater: Do different observers provide similar ratings?

Internal Consistency: Do different items of a test/survey measure the same variable?

Question 27

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 27

Observation of behavior in its natural setting

Generally participants don’t know they are being observed to reduce participant bias

Risk of observer bias