Psychological Research and Scientific Method

1. Psychological Research and Scientific Method The application of scientific method in psychology

2. What is the goal of science? • Psychological research has 4 key objectives: • Description (finding out what happens). • Understand how & why something happens • Use the new information to predict what will happen in a specific context. • Control a phenomenon (where appropriate!)

3. Description • Detailed unbiased observations are usually the key link between the real world & scientific abstract ideas. Descriptions allow psychologists to be clear about the nature of the subject matter, which can lead to possible explanations later.

4. Understanding. • Once a description has been established our understanding to explain how & why needs developing. Psychologists will develop their understanding by testing theories systematically….to find out what they cannot explain. • Hypothesis from a theory (not vice versa) thus the theory is supported!

5. Prediction • After the description and explanation, a prediction is made. • Psychologists work toward testing specific predictions. • E.g. Lack of control is related to workplace stress, therefore we might predict those who have no/low control in their jobs are more likely to suffer from stress.

6. Control • The aim of psychologists (all scientists for that matter!) is to control a specific phenomenon by manipulating several factors that cause it (think...Operant conditioning!) • Prediction and control are specifically important for applied psychologists who use their psychological knowledge to bring about change/improvements.

7. Objectivity is the key This emerged in the 17th century in response to previous methods. Greek methods employed by the likes of Aristotle were the main methods used up to this point. They used mainly cosmic knowledge & logical reasoning. Science does not allow individuals to make specific claims about the physical/social world based upon their personal views. The likes of Watson (1913) attempted objectivity through the investigation of observable behaviour only. However this view has been argued ‘robustly’ by those who feel this is too restrictive Traditional views of science.

8. Modern views of science. • Objectivity: Regarded as an important feature of scientific investigations. • Replicability: Findings need to be replicable to avoid basing policy, practice on a ‘fluke’. • Paradigms: A world wide view of general theoretical view that is accepted buy the majority. It determines how researchers approach their work.

9. Objectivity • Popper (1972) challenged the assumption of total objectivity. He argued it is impossible to achieve objectivity (total!) as values,beliefs,expectations influence ones observations. • OBSERVE NOW!

10. HMM! • What you observe is largely based upon what you expect to see. • In research this is driven by what we hypothesise.

11. HMMM!!! • Remember what the eye sees (sensation) is different form what the individual actually sees (Perception)!!

12. Are there other views? • Some psychologists who support the social constructivist view believe that data can never be wholly objective, but rather our knowledge & understanding of the social world is based upon social constructs. • In short: • Our interpretation of data is determined by cultural, social and historical influences.

13. But what about qualitative methods? • Interviews, observations and the list goes on… • The researcher is more interested in feelings and the understanding of meaning of ones inner world as a source of data. • Objectivity is not viewed as necessarily an indication of worth of their research.

14. Replicability • Need to be able to validate each others findings. One can have increased confidence when findings have been replicated. • Replication is essential for 2 reasons: • Guards against scientific fraud. • It enables testing to ensure the findings were not the result of a fluke.

15. Replication • Controlled labs usually give rise to good replicability so long as details of the study have been carefully detailed. • Internal validity is usually higher when investigations have been carried out time and again. The trade off is when the investigation has been carried out outside the lab (social experiments).

16. Q: Is this the same for qualitative studies? • A: No…this kind of investigation provide what is known as a audit trail/decision trail. • This enables them to trace back specific claims made by the researcher back to the original data to check if they are appropriate. • The trail provides a detailed acct of the thoughts and decisions made by the investigator.

17. How do I achieve replicability? A: Follow these steps • Note exactly what has been done. • How the study was carried out • No. of Ps, (characteristics, sampling etc). • Where study was carried out. • Raw data- how was it collected and analysed = Replicability.

18. Replicability + Type I/Type II errors. • Type 1: Null Hypothesis is rejected when it should not have been. • (Error of optimism) • Type 2 : Null is retained when it should not have been. (Error of pessimism) • A single study could fall under either of the above, so, replication helps to guard against these types of omissions.

19. So where do Paradigms fit in? • Thomas Kuhn claimed science develops by shifting the previous school of thought and replacing with another • ‘ A shared set of assumptions about the subject matter of a discipline & the methods appropriate to its study’. There are 3 stages to this development • Prescience-Range of views, no accepted paradigm. • Normal science-Generally accepted paradigm. • Revolutionary science-Paradigm shift a replacement occurs.

20. Review of learning.You should be able to/answer • List the four main goals of science • What is the traditional view of science objectivity and how is it achieved • Explain why it is not possible for scientists to achieve total objectivity • Why is replicability important, what is needed to enable researchers to replicate the work of others • Describe what is meant by a paradigm.