Clever Hans

1. Clever Hans Clever Hans the horse could do simple math and spell out the answers to simple questions. He wasn’t always correct, but he was most of the time. While a team of scientists, veterinarians, zoologists and circus trainers could not figure out how Hans was correctly answer the questions, Oskar Pfungst, a psychologist did. What did he discover?

2. Hans’ Secret While Hans could not do math or correctly answer questions on his own, he was very perceptive. Hans was picking up on subtle body language given off by his owner who asked the questions. When the owner was hidden from view, suddenly Hans could not answer the questions correctly. How does this story relate to methodology?

3. Psychologists from all areas of specialization use the scientific method to test their theories about behavior and mental processes A theory is an organized set of principles that is designed to explain and predict some phenomenon.

4. The beginnings of a study • Once you have your research question, the variables you are measuring must be defined clearly • Operational Definition- the precise definition of behavior or quality in terms of the procedures used to measure or produce them. • Ex. Define child abuse

5. These are Naturalistic observation, surveys, case study and correlational These describe and predict behavior Experiments- IV and DV Control and explain behavior There are two major types of research methods:1. Descriptive 2.Experiments

6. the researcher observes people as they behave in the real world. The researcher simply records what occurs and does not intervene in the situation. Methods of Experimentation1. Naturalistic Observations

7. USES • Naturalistic observation is used among developmental psychologists who study social play, parent-child attachments, and other aspects of child development. These researchers observe children at home, in school, on the playground, and in other settings.

8. What may be some limitations or pitfalls for this type of method? • Observer Bias predisposition to address an issue in a certain way. Bias also can mean being swayed or persuaded to adhere to certain beliefs.

9. Some Advantages or Strengths • Provides descriptive data about behavior uncontaminated by outside influences. • Imagine someone trying to observe behavior with classmates in a laboratory setting? Wouldn’t you act weird. • Child play can be observed in a makeshift play room outside of the true environment

10. Case Studies • interview, test, observe, and investigate the backgrounds of specific individuals in detail. • USES conducted when researchers believe that an in-depth look at one individual will reveal something important about people in general. • Clinical Studies

11. Pitfalls • The case study may not provide a representative picture of the phenomena • A persons behavior is affected by many factors making it difficult identify which variables caused the behavior being studied. • A single case study cannot be generalized to all people.

12. Jean Piaget first began to formulate a theory of intellectual development by questioning his own children. Neuroscientists learn about how the human brain works by testing patients who have suffered brain damage. Cognitive psychologists learn about human intelligence by studying child prodigies and other gifted individuals

13. Surveys A survey is a research method where questions are asked to subjects who report their own answers. What are some dangers of using a survey?

14. Survey • surveys describe a specific population or group of people. • surveys involve asking people a series of questions about their behaviors, thoughts, or opinions. • surveys can be conducted in person, over the phone, or through the mail.

15. Uses • Surveys may pertain to almost any topic. • surveys ask people to report their feelings about various social and political issues, the TV shows they watch, or the consumer products they purchase. • surveys are also used to learn about people’s sexual practices; to estimate the use of cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs; and to approximate the proportion of people who experience feelings of life satisfaction, loneliness, and other psychological states that cannot be directly observed.

16. PitfallsRandom vs. bias sample • Sample- a group of people selected from a population • the sample being questioned must be representative of the population on key characteristics such as sex, race, age, region, and cultural background. • A random sample, a method of selection in which everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen.

17. Why must good surveys be clearly worded? • The results can be influenced, and biased, by two factors: who the respondents are and how the questions are asked • Social desirability- the tendency to give appropriate answers • Selection factor- a bias that occurs when participants are allowed to determine whether or not they participate in an experiment

18. How would you answer : Have you ever cheated on test? Would do it again? Do you think that everybody would cheat if they could? Have you seen a friend cheat on a test? Would you consider telling if you had to? SURVEY THIS!

19. Correlational studies

20. Experimentation • Investigation seeking relationship between cause and effect • In an experiment, the psychologist manipulates one factor in a situation—keeping other aspects of the situation constant—and then observes the effect of the manipulation on behavior. • .

21. Variables IV & DV • The factor that an experimenter varies (the proposed cause) is known as the independent variable, and the behavior being measured (the proposed effect) is called the dependent variable. • DV-factors in the experiment you can’t control. Depends on the IV • IV-factor in the experiment you can control (manipulate) Affect the DV

22. Got it? • In a test of the hypothesis that frustration triggers aggression, frustration would be the ___________ variable, and aggression the _________ variable.

23. Who are the participants? • Experimental group- receives the treatment (IV) • Control Group- does not receive the treatment (IV). Used as a bases for comparison.

24. There are three requirements for conducting a valid scientific experiment: • (1) control over the independent variable, • (2) the use of a comparison group (CG) • (3) the random assignment of subjects to conditions.

25. Avoid a selector factor- a bias that occurs when participants are allowed to determine whether or not they participate in an experiment. • Solution:Random assignments of subjects to condition ensures • Generalizability-(the extent to which a finding obtained under one set of conditions can also be obtained at another time, in another place, and in other populations)(Replicable)

26. Factors that can confound or confuse the interpretation of results 3 sources of confounding variables: 1. Random variables- uncontrollable or uncontrolled factors like background, personaltiy, vulneralbilitiy to stress Confounding variables

27. 2. Participants expectations-when participants know they are receiving a treatment they will try harder to improve than those in the control group. This is called the placebo effect. • Solution: create a no treatment, placebo and experimenter group • 3.

28. Experimenter bias- the unintentional effect that the person conducting experiment may have on their results by acting different, observing something that is not accurate • Solution: Double- blind study- both the people measuring and the people participating have no idea who received the treatment