Topic 1 Experimental Psychology

Question 1

How did psychology become a scientific discipline?

Answer 1

-> second half of the nineteenth century: understanding the nature of human thought was interested by many
-> Conviction that scientific methods could be applied grew slowly
-> knowledge should be gained empirically, with a method : so psychology became a science

TOK: perception, reason, introspection, human memory, introspection, intuition, rationalism, empiricism

Question 2

What is an empirical method (APA)

Answer 2

Procedure for conducting an investigation that relies upon experimentation and systematic observation rather than theoretical speculation

Question 3

What is experimental psychology

Answer 3

psychology that utilizes scientific methods to research the mind and behavior. By conducting controlled experiments, researchers in this field aim to understand how people perceive, think, feel, and behave.

Psych. theory has to fit the facts of beh. AS PREVIOUSLY DERVIED from systematic observation.

doesn’t fit? discarded or revised

Question 4

Empirical method 3/3

Answer 4

-> Inductive - theory from experience
-> Deductive - apply general laws to conclude

-> Hypothetic-deductive - forumalting hypothesis to be proven or disproven
-> Abductive - trying to complete incomplete observations, finding the last, most likely puzzle piece

Question 5

It’s dangerous to drive on icy streets. The streets are icy now, so it would be dangerous to drive
on the streets.

Answer 5

Deductive

Question 6

Michael just moved here from Chicago. Michael has red hair. Therefore, all people from Chicago have red hair.

Answer 6

Inductive

Question 7

Research Designs

Answer 7

Descriptive : Create snapshot of current affairs (allows development for future & no assessment, can be unethical if unknown obs.)

Correlational : assess relationships among 2 or more v.s (can make predictions & cannot draw inferences about the causal relationships)

Experimental : assess causal impact of one IV on another DV using manipulation (manipulation can be used & can be expensive and time c)

Question 8

Empirical studies: non-experimental methods

Answer 8

Researcher does not control vs: final results might be due to unknown causes

types
-> observational studies
-> survey studies
-> qualitative studies

Question 9

Empirical studies: experimental methods

Answer 9

test hypothesis between two variables

independent variable: manipulator, that is changed in order to manipulate
dependent variable: the victim, variable affected by change (measured)

types:
-> single-subject study
-> between-subject study (two small groups sees two set of signs)
-> within subject study (one big g see two set of signs)

Question 10

Empirical studies: Causation vs. Correlation

Answer 10

Correlation: statistical technique (Pearson’s R) tells us us how strongly pair of variables are linearly related and change together
r=0.4 positive . r=0 non . r=-0.4 negative

-> correlation does not imply causation

Causation
Change in value of one v will cause a change in the value of another v
-> one v makes the other happen

Question 11

Empirical studies: Differences between experimental and non-experimental methods

Answer 11

-> control variables
exp. m has higher control of vs

-> independent v. manipulation

exp. designs: researcher can manipulate the independent variable

non-exp. designs: researchers SELECT those subjects who have certain value in the independent v.

Question 12

Theoretucal studies

Answer 12

theoretical studies: rigorous search of the relevant information is carried out, and sources of high rigorous

systematic reviews: answers a defined research question by collecting + summarising all empirical evidence that fits pre-specified eligibility criteria

Meta-analysis: use of statistical methods to summarise results of these studies

Question 13

standardisation APA dictionary

Answer 13

estabilishing norms for a test
use of uniform procedures in test administration to ensure that all participants take the same test under same conditions

Question 14

systematise observation

Answer 14

an objective, well-ordered method for close examination
-> intent is to ensure that, under the same or similar circumstances, all observers will obtain the same results.

Question 15

Formulating a research question FINER

Answer 15

-> all research must originate from a question or a problem that no one has given answer too, incompletely or not at all

FINER
feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, relevant

bad one can affect
-> choice of study design
-> potentially lead to futile situations
-> tamper the chance of determining anything of clinical significance
-> results compromised

documentation: searching and reviewing the published scientific literature - to verify the existence of research in the same subject as one intended

Question 16

Formulating objectives and hypothesis

Answer 16

What we expect to check (OBJECTIVES)

What we think will happen (HYPOTHESIS)

objective + hypothesis GUIDE research process

hypothesis/prediction: statement that a change in one thin will produce a change in the other

Question 17

Experimental design and data collection

Answer 17

in behavioural sciences all data is collected from people
-> questionnaires
-> behavioural experimentation neuroimagining
-> standardised testing

Question 18

Data analysis

Answer 18

-> research designs include the application of statistical techniques on data obtained
-> descriptive stats (mode, median, mean, range, standard deviation, variance, correlation coefficient)
-> Inferential stats (draw conclusions about a population based on data from a sample.)
-> mistakes (type I error, type II error)
–> false positive, missed opportunity

(o How measurements were made
o What calculations were performed
o Statistical tests done to analyse the data.)

Question 19

Interpreting and communicating the results

Answer 19

-> Description is made of the results obtained in terms of the objectives and the hypotheses put forward. prepared and attempted to be published

Question 20

Journal Article reporting standards IMRaD

Answer 20

introduction, methods, results, and discussions (conclusion)
(why, how, what, so what)
ALSO title, authors, abstract, keywords, References

Question 21

Introduction

Answer 21

-> Description of the concepts/thematics being researched
-> Description of previous work or research
-> Description of the research problem (what is needed to know) and its importance (justification)
-> Objectives and hypotheses

Question 22

Methods

Answer 22

Allows other researchers to see exactly how the research was conducted (for reproduction of experiment and assessment of alt method)
subsections
-> participants, material, design, procedure, data analysis

Question 23

Participants + Materials

Answer 23

-> no.# participants, demographic
-> inclusion and exclusion criteria
–> diagnosis, clinical variables, demographic characteristics, sensory impairment, other medical conditions
-> informed consent

-> materials, measures, questionnaires, asseessment batteries
-> equipment stimuli

Question 24

Design, Procedures

Answer 24

The type of design used in the experiment (within-subject or between-subject)
-> IV + DV, CV, other V

-> setting where the intervention or manipulation was
delivered
-> conditions
-> no.# sessions
-> Duration of intervention
-> no.# sessions
-> time between sessions
-> instructions given to participants

Question 25

Results

Answer 25

• Here are summarized the collected data, the relevant analysis performed on those data.
• The data must be reported in sufficient detail to justify the conclusions.
• Figures are used in this section to support the results’ description within the text

Question 26

Discussion/Conclusion

Answer 26

• We examine, interpret the results, and draw conclusions from our results.
• Comparison of our results with previous research
• Limitations of the study
• Implications for professional practice
  Title Authors Abstract Keywords
  Introduction
  Method
  Results
• Future lines of research

Question 27

References

Answer 27

• We include all the articles, books, chapters, questionnaires, documents, etc., which have been used to write our paper.
• Different citation styles. The most used in Health sciences are APA style, Vancouver, Harvard

Zotero or mendeley