Research Methods in Psychology

Question 1

Goals of Psychology Today

Answer 1

• Describe Behavior = “What…” is happening?
• Predict behavior = “Under what circumstances…”
• Explain Behavior = “why…”
• Control/Change Behavior= “how can we change…”
o Want to help others change themselves for the better
o Ex. Therapy

Question 2

Descriptive Research Method

Answer 2

• describes behavior
• observe, collect and record data
• three types: Naturalistic Observation, Case Studies, and Survey Research

Question 3

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 3

observe where something lives in their natural habitat(animals, children on a playground, teens in the mall); watch from far away so research is natural/not affected by you(reactivity)

Question 4

Case Studies

Answer 4

in depth study of a single subject or small group of subjects; people with behavior/disorder

Question 5

Survey Research

Answer 5

 Form of “polling” to measure a wide variety of psychological behaviors and attitudes
 Example of eyes color survey in class
 Need to find ways to ask questions for a valid measure of something that you cannot directly see
- can be done multiple ways

Question 6

Correlational Research Method

Answer 6

• predicts behavior
• • Observing or measuring two or more variables to find the relationship(s) between them
  • With a correlation, you can claim
  o A is correlated with B
  o A is related to B
  o When A is high(or low), B is more likely
  • YOU CANNOT CLAIM THAT
• A is causing B
  o B is causing A
  o Increases(or decreases) in A cause an increase in B

Question 7

Characteristics of Correlation in correlational research

Answer 7

• Strength (if A and B are strong together, A can help predict where B is in that correlation)
• Direction (about what I am going to predict)(If A is at a high level, is B going to be high, low, moderate, etc?)

Question 8

Measures of Correlation in correlational research

Answer 8

• Positive correlation: the two variables go up and down together; as one increases, the other increases (and the latter)(studying and grade)
•  Negative correlation: the two variables go in opposite directions: as one increases the other decreases and vice versa(miles driven and gas)
• Strong Correlation: Foot size is STRONGLY related to shoe size
• Weak correlation: Shyness is WEAKLY related to low self-esteem

Question 9

CORRELATION does NOT necessarily equal CAUSATION

Answer 9

• Example: the increase of ice cream consumption does not cause and increase in drowning

Question 10

Experimental Research Method

Answer 10

• Experimenter manipulates the variable of interest, while holding all other factors constant
• CAN determine causal relationships
• Example: want to know if flashcards are effective study tool; half of students HAVE to use flashcards, while the others are NOT allowed; then examine what group does better
(many factors can affect this!!)
- “does this cause this?”

Question 11

How do Psychology of Today Goals connect to research methods today?

Answer 11

In these research methods, they help reach the goal of a certain thing causing another thing, OR an action being correlated with another affect/action; after research is through, it can help change certain things for the better since there is now evidence

Question 12

Correlation Coefficient(r)

Answer 12

statistical calculation that indicated the strength and the direction of the correlation
o Strong positive correlation: r=+0.92
o Weak positive correlation: r= +0.46
o Strong negative correlation: r= -0.92
o Strong positive correlation: r= -0.46

Question 13

Operational definitions(experimental research)

Answer 13

specific definition used for the purpose of the present experiment; Experimenter have to define specifically/exactly how they mean in the study

Question 14

Independent Variable vs. Dependent Variable

Answer 14

o Independent Variable: the “thing” you manipulate; How people study for a test(flashcards v. no flashcards)
o Dependent variable: the “thing” you measure; The grade outcome for the test given to the students

Question 15

Experimental Group vs. Control Group

Answer 15

 Example:Does stress interfere with memory?
• Group A: stressed out
• Group B: unstressed
 Which one is control group?
• Group B
• Group A is EXPERIMENTAL GROUP
o **Note for studies: some experiments are done with same people, with and without factor inflicted in them because it can be more powerful to see how it affects the same individual

Question 16

Experimental Hazards

Answer 16

problems that may arise in a poorly designed experiment(such as sample bias, participation bias, and experimenter bias)

Question 17

Sample bias

Answer 17

the groups in an experiments are not equivalent before the study begins
o Ways to minimize sample bias?
 Random assignment
o Example: assigned accidentally more motivated in one group and less motivated in another(creates sample bias)

Question 18

Participation Bias

Answer 18

the expectancies of the participant influence the results of the study
 Example: the placebo effect, giving pill to feel smarter before test that does not actually do anything
o Ways to minimize participant bias?
 Single-blind experiments
• Example: saying the pill MAY OR MAY NOT have a pill with active ingredient that will effect them

Question 19

Experimenter Bias

Answer 19

a researcher’s expectations about the outcome of a study influence the results
 Ways to minimize experiment bias?
• Double-blind experiments
o Example: researcher does not know which group has what
 Example of bias: encouraging the flashcard study group to study more, while not helping the group without flashcards
• To minimize bias, an outside assistant know which group has what