Research Methods Lecture 2

Question 1

Tuskegee Syphilis Study
who? what? where? when? why?

Answer 1

Who? Conducted by united states public health service on 400 African American men diagnosed with syphilis

What? Observation of the African American Men with syphilis. They were told they were being observed on how to treat bad blood never told they had syphilis. Pretended to give treatment but this was not real treatment.

Where? Rural Alabama, Tuskegee

When? 1932 to 1972

why? Determine the natural corse of untreated syphilis

Aftermath? 28 died, 100 died of related complications, 40 unknowingly infected wives and 19 children were born with syphilis

Effects? SERIOUS TRUST ISSUES WITH MEDICAL RELATED FIELDS

Question 2

what is the famous question warwick posed related to research ethics?

Answer 2

If you lie for the sake of science why not lie for everything else

Question 3

What are the key ethical guidelines as set by the American psychological association?

Answer 3

Avoid coercion/ needs to be fully voluntary
Participants may not be subjected to harmful conditions greater than everyday life
If deception is used, participants must be debriefed
Maintain the confidentiality of the participants

Question 4

The scientific method goals:

Answer 4

a. measure and describe a phenomena behavior in our environment
b. understand and predict the phenomena
c. learn how to apply the information to solve problems

Question 5

Steps of the scientific method

Answer 5

1. Formulate a hypothesis

You are testing your hypothesis

First step of Scientific inquiry is to translate the theory into something that can be tested

Theory: an explanation using an integrated set of ideas that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events

Hypothesis: testable prediction

Operational Definition: describes what you mean by each area of your study (statement of procedure used to define research variables)

2. Design your study
   The method you select is contingent on the question you want to answer
3. Collect the data
4. Analyze the data
   Often Statistical in nature
5. Disseminate findings

Question 6

_________ is the starting point of any form of science

Answer 6

Description

Question 7

Researchers can observe and describe phenomena _____ and _____ through: ______, _______, ________.

Answer 7

1. objectively
2. systematically
3. case studies, naturalistic observations, surveys and interviews

Question 8

case studies

Answer 8

In depth investigation of one participant, focus of a case study is describing behavior.

generally researchers will analyze a group of case studies to look for patterns

Question 9

Naturalistic observation

Answer 9

Observing behaviors as they naturally unfold, there is no direct contact with the patients, they are often used in the exploratory phase of a project= trying to figure out what they want to study phase

Question 10

Surveys and interviews

Answer 10

Gathering information about background, beliefs, and behaviors

Observe behavioral manifestation of an attitude, but not an attitude

Question 11

Case study Advantages and Disadvantages

Answer 11

A: Can be very revealing, suggests directions for future research

D: can be highly subjective (researchers will see and hear what they expect to see and hear) and misleading (needs to be interpreted with caution)

Question 12

Naturalistic Observations Advantages and Disadvantages

Answer 12

A: Allows researchers to explore a phenomenon in its
natural environment/ as they naturally unfold and offers a snapshot of everyday life

D: Participants will become reactive if they know they are being observed and there is no control over the factors that might influence
behavior
(no control over outside factors that might be influencing behavior in a given moment they don’t truly know if the behavior is natural as it could be an anomaly)

Question 13

Surveys and Interviews Advantages and Disadvantages

Answer 13

A: gathering information on things that are difficult to observe and
gathering information from large samples/ large groups of people

D: based on self reported data
participants are subject to social acceptance bias

Question 14

Correlational research

Answer 14

Goal is to explore whether a relation exists are two variables related to each other

A correlation is a measure of the extent of which two factors vary together

Correlations can be positive or negative

Positive: variables move in same direction
Ex: one more sleep results in higher grades (also down down)

Negative variables move in opposite directions
Ex: Increasing sleep hours decreases anxiety levels (also down up)