Chapter 2 The Research Enterprise PDF

Chapter 2 The Research Enterprise B A S E D O N, W E I T E N, W. ( 2 0 0 8 ) T H E M E S A N D VA R I A T I O N S , B R I E F E R V E R S I O N 1 1 T H ED.  1. Looking for Laws: The Scientific Approach to Behavior Goals of the Scientific Ente...

Chapter 2 The Research Enterprise B A S E D O N, W E I T E N, W. ( 2 0 0 8 ) T H E M E S A N D VA R I A T I O N S , B R I E F E R V E R S I O N 1 1 T H ED.  1. Looking for Laws: The Scientific Approach to Behavior Goals of the Scientific Enterprise Steps in a Scientific Investigation Hypothesis Operational definition Advantages of the Scientific Approach Weiten, Psychology: Themes & Variations, 11 th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 2  Scientific Approach 3 Goals of psychology  1) Measure and describe behavior  2) Understand and predict behavior  3) Apply and control behavior  Scientific Approach Steps of science  1) hypothesis  make a prediction  2) select the design  survey, experiment, or correlation ?  3) collect data  4) analyze data  5) report the findings  Scientific Approach Theory – system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations  Different ideas tied together in one explanation.  Can’t test whole theory at once so theory is narrowed down to fit an experimental situation.  Hypothesis predicts how the experiment will turn out.  Scientific Approach Hypothesis – tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables  educated guess 2. Looking for Causes: Experimental Research Independent and Dependent Variables Experimental and Control Groups Extraneous Variables Advantages and Disadvantages Weiten, Psychology: Themes & Variations, 11 th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 7  Experiment Different conditions are set up to observe the effect on the subjects’ behavior.  Active manipulation of experimental conditions to make things happen.  Determine cause and effect.  Experiment Define variables  Independent variable (cause)  The different conditions the experimenter sets up (manipulates directly)  How the groups differ  Dependent variable (effect)  Thing expected to change dependent on the conditions the subject goes through  The result or outcome  Experiment Select and assign subjects  Experimental Group (gets special treatment)  Control Group (no treatment)  Random assignment –any subject has a chance of being in either group (flip a coin)  Experiment Operational definitions – explains how variables in the experiment are observed and measured  Frustration defined as the number of interruptions a subject gets  Aggression defined as the size of a shock the subject gives  Experiment Extraneous variable – anything other than the independent variable that can influence the dependent variable  Kept the same for all groups. (Only the independent is different between groups.)  Experiment Advantages Disadvantages  Determine cause  Artificial and effect (only (laboratory not method that can do enough like the real this) world)  Unethical (many questions can’t be explored due to health or other risks)  3. Looking for Links: Correlational Research The Concept of Correlation Strength of the Correlation Correlation and Prediction Correlation and CAusation Weiten, Psychology: Themes & Variations, 11 th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 14  Correlation Gather measurements on two or more variables and compare them.  Measurethings as they naturally occur (no manipulation)  Correlation  Positive  Negative correlation correlation (factors change in (factors change in the same direction) the opposite direction)  If A is high, B is high or if A is low,  If A is high, B is B is low low or if A is low, B is high  Correlation  Positively correlated if they tend to increase and decrease together.  Negatively correlated if one tends to increase when the other Positive and Negative Correlations decreases.  Correlation Correlation coefficient – a number between -1 and +1 that indicates how strong the relationship is -1 ………….. -.5 ………….. 0 ………….. +.5 ………….. +1 perfect moderate no moderate perfect negative correlation positive Can predict A from B if correlation is  Correlation Can’t assume cause and effect  Just because two variables are correlated does not mean that one causes the other.  May be a third factor causing changes in both A and B  Correlation may not be a direct relationship.  Descriptive Methods Naturalistic Observation Case Studies Surveys Advantages and Disadvantages Weiten, Psychology: Themes & Variations, 11 th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 20  Naturalistic observation Observe behavior as it happens in its natural setting.  Only describes behavior – doesn’t explain why.  Cardinal rule – don’t interfere.  Case study In-depth investigation of an individual subject  Clinical studies  Problem – can’t generalize results to other cases -easy for investigators to see what they expect  Survey Subjects report behavior in response to a questionnaire  Advantage – large numbers of subjects gathered in a short time  Problem – relies on self-report  Type of information Experiment – cause and effect Correlation – prediction Naturalistic observation – descriptive Case study – descriptive Survey - descriptive  Descriptive/Correlational Advantages Disadvantages  Can explore  Can’t determine questions that cause and effect. experimental procedures can’t.  More flexible and ethical  4. Looking for Flaws: Evaluating Research Sampling Bias Placebo Effects Distortions in Self-Report Data Experimenter Bias The Importance of Replication Weiten, Psychology: Themes & Variations, 11 th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 26  Looking for flaws Sampling bias – Is the sample representative of the population? Placebo effects – subject expectations can distort the data (single blind experiment) Distortions in self-report – Give socially approved answers (social desirability bias)  Misunderstand, memory errors, tendency to agree or disagree  Looking for flaws Experimenter bias – expectations of the researcher can distort the data  double-blind experiment – The experimenter doesn’t know whether the subject is in the experimental group or the control group until the end of the experiment. Treat everyone the same. Importance of Replication – repeat the study to see if earlier results are accurate  Meta-analysis – combines results of many studies to assess the size and consistency of a variable 5. Looking at Ethics: Do the Ends Justify the Means The Question of Deception The Question of Animal Research Ethical Principles in Research Weiten, Psychology: Themes & Variations, 11 th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 29  Ethics 1) Voluntary participation 2) Not exposed to harm 3) If deception used, must debrief 4) Right to privacy 5) Justify any harm to animals 6) Gain approval from Institutional Review Board (IRB)  The end T H A N K S F O R Y O U R AT T E N T I O N. P R O D U C E D BY L I N DA G I B B O N S, UA FS