Research Methods

Research Methods Critical thinking = actively questioning statements rather than blindly accepting them

Case study • = in-depth study of one individual • Good for RARE cases • Serial killers (Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer) • Rare diseases (fatal familial insomnia) • Problem • Can’t generalize • Can’t say what caused the problem through a case study only

Naturalistic observation = observe subject/individual(s) in natural setting • One-way mirrors, cameras • Useful for DESCRIBING behavior • Used with animals in the wild • E.g., watch and record members of a Koala family in Australia

Surveys = answering questions • E.g., political polls - Who will you vote for? • Sexual behavior – do you cheat on your significant other? • Problem • Not everyone is honest • Can you just invite people who want to answer the questions? • Can you just put it on the internet?

Ideally, obtain a representative sample =people who mirror the larger population. • E.g., if doing a study about college students, include • Students of all ages • Students who work • Males and females • Who else can you think of? • Try to get a representative sample whenever you can (for surveys, experiments, etc)

The Experiment • = SCIENTIFIC / EMPIRICAL • Empirical = the result of observation, measurement, and experimentation • Develop a hypothesis = a specific, testable prediction about what you think will happen in your study e.g., adolescents are more likely to smoke if their parents smoke e.g. People who take Prozac will experience ________ depression (more / less?) • The ONLY way to determine cause and effect*

First, obtain informed consent • E.g., this medication may not benefit you, may harm you…sign here _____________ • Choose your independent and dependent variables • Independent variable = the variable that the experimenter manipulates/changes around • Dependent variable = the variable that is measured at the end of the experiment

Exercise: Design a study on the Effect of Prozac on Depression • N= 100 • Control group = group that receives no treatment • Placebo = an inactive substance or fake treatment which is used as a control technique

What is your IV and DV? • What is your hypothesis? • (hypothesis = a testable prediction about the conditions under which a particular behavior or mental process may occur) • What are your confounding variables? (Variables that could interfere with your hypothesis)

If findings are “statistically significant,” your hypothesis has been supported. • E.g., People who took Prozac were less depressed. • E.g., People who talk on cell phones are more likely to get into accidents. (It happens significantly more often) • Statistical significance does NOT mean your information in necessarily useful or practical • A real study shows that people with spider phobias are afraid to touch spiders. (They got statistical significance/support for hypothesis, BUT they didn’t have to do the study to figure that out!)

In your study, include operational definitions • Precise • Objective • Measurable • Example: Teaching a rat to bar press

Correlational Studies • Correlation = a relationship between 2 variables • Positive correlation = as 1 variable ↑, the other ↑ • E.g., studying and grades • Negative correlation = as 1 variable ↑, the other variable ↓ • E.g., heavy partying and grades

Correlation coefficient = describes the strength of the relationship. • Ranges from -1 to 1 1 OR -1 = strongest, perfect relationship. 1 or -1 signifies 100%. e.g., the size of a balloon and the amount of air in a balloon (positive or negative?) 0 = NO RELATIONSHIP

Correlational research may reveal • The ability to predict one variable from another • A reliable relationship between variables • A numerical description of the strength between 2 variables • BUT CANNOT SAY THAT ONE CAUSES THE OTHER!! • E.g., ice cream sales and crime

Research Methods