PSYC - Ch 2 Flashcards
1st step of the research process
Find a research idea
- identify a topic that interests you
- explore previous research in that topic to develop a research idea or question.
General categories of research
Applied research
- directed towards solving practical problems
- ie: treatment for alcohol addiction
Basic research
- intended to solve theoretical issues or understand a particular phenomena
- ie: how alcohol affects the brain
Literature Search
Literature = mass of published info worldwide
Lit search - identify studies directly related to your topic (cross-referencing + summaries can help)
Purpose of a lit search
- To gain familiarity with the current research in your area of interest
- To find a small set of research studies as the basis for your research
Find research defining the current state of knowledge and iIdentify a gap in that knowledge base that your study will attempt to fill.
Tips to start a Lit Search
Collect background info - read books + articles - enough to get a good grasp
Keep an open mind - Strat general and let it lead you to more specific
Be critical as you read - and flexible
Focus in on one thing
2 types of sources
Primary - the authors describe their own observations
ie: empirical journal articles/thesis
Secondary - the authors
discuss someone else’s observations
ie: textbooks/introductory sections of research reports
Purpose when conducting a Lit Search
Narrow down your general idea to a specific research question
What to do when doing a Lit Search
Find published info that supports your question
Make note of subject words
Make note of author names
New research grows out of old research
Like a tree branch where closest to the trunk is historical studies and the other end is the current research.
Look at all side branches as well
Screening Articles
First basis for screening - Title
Second screening device - Abstract
If the article still looks relevant, then read it carefully
Use references from good articles to expand your literature search
Ending a Lit Search
It is complete when you feel comfortable with your knowledge about the topic and you have found a few recent relevant studies
The articles you find must provide justification for new research
Online Databases
Web search ≠ database
Google - not always accurate, questionable sources, a lot to weed through
Typical database has about 1 million publications
PsycINFO
American Psychological Association’s (APA) definitive resource for publications
Largest resource devoted to peer-reviewed literature in behavioral science and mental health
PUBMED
Accesses MEDLINE database
Google Scholar
Often need institutional access
If you cannot find anything after searching
Maybe not well researched
Maybe not able to be researched
Try different terms
Finding an idea from a publication
Authors often state unanswered questions, suggestions for future research and limitations to their studies
Create a new idea from two existing results
Use knowledge of components of a research article (introduction, discussion, and references)
2nd step of the research process
Form a hypothesis.
- Logical: the logical conclusion of a logical argument
- Testable: all the variables, events, and individuals can be defined and
observed - Refutable: can be demonstrated to be false
- Positive: must make a positive statement about the existence of something
LTRP
3rd step in the research process
Specify how the variables will be defined and measured
4th step in the research process
Identify the individuals who will participate in the study, describe how they will be selected, and how you will ensure their ethical treatment
Hypothesis vs Prediction
Hypothesis - theoretical, how you think the world works
Prediction - expected result of a given study
