Research in Psychology

1. Research in Psychology A creative problem-solving enterprise

2. Goals of Psychology…Using “false memory” as an example • Measurement and description • Understanding and prediction • Application and control • People “misremember” frequently (M> 50%) • Memory is constructive—people “fill in the blanks” • Context influences the construction • Listen carefully and critically • Avoid assumptions!

3. Augmenting Introspective Methods with New Methods • Let’s try this……

7. Now, let’s do it again. Same procedure….name the color of ink in which the string of letters is printed. For example, this string of letters cat is printed in red ink and you would say “red” for the color of ink. Remember to say the color ink out loud, as quickly as you can, without making mistakes. If you make a mistake, just go on. Again, start naming colors of ink at the top left, proceed to the end of the row and then down to the next row. After you finish naming colors for the entire block, go back to the top left and continue. Try to keep track of the number of rows in each block and the number of blocks that that you complete.

11. What does the Stroop Task Demonstrate? What kind of research design is this? A survey or questionnaire? A case study? Naturalistic observation? An experiment?

12. What is the independent variable (IV)? What is the dependent variable (DV)? How many treatment groups were there? How many treatment conditions were there? Was there random selection? Was there random assignment? How would we achieve reliability?

13. Other means of collecting data about behavior….Are You Normal?—the survey In your groups…identify the advantages and disadvantages

14. Examples of Research Designs

15. Examples of Research Designs

16. Examples of Research Designs

17. Examples of Research Designs

18. Examples of Research Designs

19. The Problem-Solving Cycle Scientific Inquiry--Research stages

20. Problem recognition (experience) *Informal observations *Past research*Question Definition of problem (Theory) *Hypotheses (prediction) *operational definitions Evaluating PS Constructing a strategy for *Conclusion PS (Research) *Sampling: *ModifyRepresentative, random *Design *Test *Collect data Monitoring PS *Statistical analysis Representing information about a problem *Design Allocation of resources *Design

21. ExperimentalCausal Independent Variable (IV): presumed cause Dependent Variable (DV): presumed effect Random Assignment Experimental, control Avoiding bias Comparison of Research Designs

24. ExperimentalCausal Independent Variable (IV): presumed cause Dependent Variable (DV): presumed effect Random Assignment Experimental, control Avoiding bias CorrelationalNon- causal No IV Two variables co-vary No random assignment Positive Negative Prediction Research Designs

25. Experimental Extraneous Variables Controlling confounds Correlational Illusory correlations X  Y Z Research Designs…pitfalls!

26. Positive Correlation: As X increases, Y tends to increase

28. outlier r = -0.08

29. Study r = -0.17

30. Our Data…”Selected number”

31. A “robust” effect: with 14 people And with 107 people……

32. What does this say about reliability? What does this say about validity?

36. Let is slide and do nothing b. Yell an obscenity • c. Give them the finger d. Shake your fists or gesticulate • Flash your lights f. Tailgate • g. Do something else…..