Research Process

Question 1

What are research methods?

Answer 1

Systematic procedures used to collect data & information, and through their evaluation, help answer specific questions and solve particular problems, or make specific decisions

Question 2

Why do we conduct research?

Answer 2

• describe behavior
• predict behavior
• understand underlying cause of behavior
• create change in the world

Question 3

Construct

Answer 3

A concept in psychology representing an abstract idea that we have assigned meaning to
- can’t measure w/ physical properties

Question 4

Generating a research hypotheses

Answer 4

Review what others have already done
- avoid reinventing the wheel
- finding a gap in literature
- recognizing inconsistencies, finding differences in lit
- improve your understanding and writing skills

Question 5

Operational definitions

Answer 5

Identify one or more specific events/characteristics that an independent researcher can observe and measure
- all abstract concepts to be measured
- described in terms of # or medium/method

Question 6

Specific constructs in Psych

Answer 6

Arousal - being awake
Superior/Inferior - above/below
Positive/Negative - reward/punishment