Psychology Research Methods

Study Notes

Research Ethics

Involves protecting participants' rights and welfare in research studies
Key principles:
- Informed consent: participants must understand the study and give voluntary consent
- Confidentiality: protecting participants' identities and data
- Anonymity: ensuring participant data is not traceable
- Risk-benefit analysis: minimizing risks and maximizing benefits
- Debriefing: providing participants with information about the study after completion

Publication Bias

The tendency for researchers to only publish positive results, leading to:
- Inflated effect sizes and misleading conclusions
- Overestimation of treatment effects
- Delayed discovery of null results
- Lack of transparency and accountability

Replication Crisis

The inability to replicate previous research findings, attributed to:
- Methodological flaws
- Small sample sizes
- P-hacking (manipulating data to achieve statistical significance)
- Lack of transparency and openness in research practices
Consequences:
- Erosion of trust in scientific research
- Waste of resources on non-replicable studies
- Delays in advancing scientific knowledge

Evidence-Based Practice

The integration of:
- Best available research evidence
- Clinical expertise
- Patient values and preferences
Aims to:
- Improve treatment outcomes
- Enhance patient care
- Reduce healthcare costs

Critical Thinking in Psychology

The systematic evaluation and analysis of information to form a judgment
Involves:
- Identifying biases and assumptions
- Evaluating evidence and arguments
- Avoiding emotional reasoning
- Considering alternative explanations
Essential for:
- Evaluating research claims
- Developing evidence-based practices
- Avoiding pseudoscientific practices

Pseudoscience

Claims presented as scientific, but lacking empirical evidence and scientific rigor
Characteristics:
- Lack of empirical evidence
- Unfalsifiable claims
- Lack of peer review
- Overemphasis on confirmation bias
Examples:
- Astrology
- Homeopathy
- Phrenology

Logical Fallacies

Errors in reasoning and argumentation
Examples:
- Ad hominem attacks
- Straw man arguments
- False dichotomies
- Appeal to authority
- Confirmation bias
Importance of recognizing logical fallacies:
- Avoiding flawed reasoning
- Evaluating arguments critically
- Developing well-supported conclusions

Importance of Transparency and Scepticism in Science

Transparency:
- Open data and materials
- Detailed method descriptions
- Publicly available code and protocols
Scepticism:
- Questioning assumptions and findings
- Evaluating evidence critically
- Avoiding confirmation bias
Consequences of lacking transparency and scepticism:
- Research misconduct
- Lack of reproducibility
- Erosion of trust in science

Description

Test your knowledge of research ethics, publication bias, replication crisis, and evidence-based practice in psychology. Evaluate your understanding of critical thinking, pseudoscience, logical fallacies, and the importance of transparency and scepticism in science.