2. Developing the Research Hypothesis

1. 2.Developing the Research Hypothesis • How do behavioral scientists get ideas for their research projects? • What is a literature search? Why is a literature search necessary, and how it is conducted? • What computer databases contain listings of behavioral research reports? • How are previous research findings used to develop ideas for further research? • What role do laws and theories play in scientific research? • What are research hypotheses, and what is their purpose?

2. How Do I Get a Good Research Ideas? • Solving Important Real World Problems. • Using Observation and Intuition. • Using existing research and finding the limiting condition or • explaining conflicting findings.

3. We often experience that our intuitive understanding helps us understand our everyday behavior. Why? Because we share meanings, often subtle or implicit ones, with members in our community. (e.g. I sometimes don’t understand Americans’ behavior because I grew up in different country). Use your intuition! Be critical of your intuition! But, self-esteem is not so important in some cultures. Therefore, the idea that self-esteem is important could Be the result of culture.. Or, it could be clue to human evolution Having self-esteem is important. I have to fend for myself. I can not Be you. Your success can not be mine.

4. Doing a Literature Search • Locating Source of Information • Primary Sources: Professional Journals • Secondary Sources: Textbook, Books written by a single author Edited Books… • Experts and Cohort • Internet

5. Primary Sources: Professional Journals Journal of Personality and Social Psychology Psychological Bulletin Psychological Review Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin Social Cognition Psychological Science Etc.

6. Formalizing Ideas into Research Hypotheses Law Principles that are so general as to apply to all situations Examples. Law of gravity, Waber’s law Theories An integrated set of principles that explains and predicts many, but not all, observed relationships within a given domain of inquiry. Example. Attribution Theories

7. How can we generate a good theory? Keep in mind…. A good theory is…. 1. General: Consider many situation to which the theory can apply 2. Parsimonious: Try to be simple 3. Falsifiable: Be clear and be open to criticism. 4. Not Tautological: Answer WHY questions

8. The Research Hypothesis A specific and falsifiable prediction regarding the relationship between or among two or more variables. It should state the existence of a relationship between the variables of interest and the specific direction of that relationship. Example. Violent TV & Aggressive Behavior

9. Variable Independent Variable Dependent Variable Experimental Manipulation The variable that is caused by the independent variable Violent TV condition Vs Non Violent TV condition Aggressive Behavior Children’s aggressive behavior increases when they watch violent TV programs compared to when they watch non-violent TV programs

10. Correlational Design Predictor Variable Outcome Variable A Catfish’s Irritation Big Earthquake

11. Class Assignment #1 • With your group members, come up with a research topic, • and discuss following three different methods to conduct the • research. Descriptive Research Correlational Research Experimental Research Homework Assignment# 1 (due 1/17) • Open a textbook of social psychology and find research • which fits the following categories. Applied Research Basic Research • List cultural specific behaviors and universal behaviors.