Data Collection: Institutional Approval, Research Participants, and Procedures

Data Collection ♣ Chapter 13 Back to Brief Contents • Procedure  • Institutional Approval  • Data Collection  • Consent to Participate  • Debriefing, or Post-experimental Interview  • Introduction  • Research Participants  • Sample Size  • Apparatus and/or Instruments  • Instructions  • Scheduling of Research Participants 

13.0 Introduction Back to Chapter Contents • Prior to actuallycollectingdata there are many decisions that must be made, from identifying research participants to writing instructions and getting approval from the IRB • This chapter will review many of these issues

13.1 Research Participants 1/3 Back to Chapter Contents • Factor that should determine the organism used: research question • Factor often used: Precedent (previous studies) • Typical research organisms: rats and college students • Obtaining Animals (Rats) • Obtaining Human Participants • Gender Bias

13.1 Research Participants 2/3 Back to Chapter Contents • Obtaining Animals (Rats) • Purchase from commercial source • Obtaining Human Participants • College students: participant pool • Alternative to other requirement (e.g. term paper) • Internet—can give access to participants with special characteristics • Other human participants—have to identify available sources and get volunteers from these sources

13.1 Research Participants 3/3 Back to Chapter Contents • Gender Bias • Most studies: make use of male participants • Male rats vs. female rats: 4-day estrus cycle • Male only: (e.g.) achievement motivation • Internal validity: OK • External validity: Psychology of predominately male behavior

13.2 Sample Size Back to Chapter Contents • Is an issue in multi-participant research • Need enough to detect an effect if one exists; as number increases, ability to detect an effect increases • Power • Ability to reject a false null hypothesis • Power is a function of three things: • Probability level (α), Sample size, Effect size • If power is known, probability level and effect size can calculate sample size Tab 13.1

13.3 Apparatus and/or Instruments Back to Chapter Contents • Involves selecting the right equipment or instruments to present the IV and to measure the DV • Microcomputer • (e.g.) EEG, ERPFig 13.1 • fMRI, PET • Journal devoted to Apparatus and Instruments: Behavioral Research Methods, Instruments, and Computers

13.4 Instructions Back to Chapter Contents • Purpose — • Define the task • Direct attention • Develop a set • Motivate the participant • Ineffective instructions —relax or pay attention (e.g.) • Do not request several incompatible operations at the same time (e.g. quickly & accurately) • Should be clear, unambiguous and specific; not be too complex, even redundant

13.5 Scheduling of Research Participants Back to Chapter Contents • Rats— lighting cycle • Dark phase: eating, drinking, etc. • Light phase: sleeping, inactivity • leave the light on 24-hr so they will not form a schedule based on the light/dark phase of the lighting schedule • Humans—must schedule when they are available and you can conduct the study • Fail to show up • Allow for limited rescheduling • Some P not want to rescheduling: replacementP (More P must be selected)

13.6 Procedure 1/3 Back to Chapter Contents • Involves specification of the sequence of events. • Animals—specifying everything from care in the laboratory to performance in the study • Humans—specifying everything from scheduling of participants to debriefing • Internet study—have series of “warm-up” trials

13.6 Procedure 2/3 Back to Chapter Contents • Pilot study— is typically a must to insure that • All scheduled events are appropriate and do not have any difficulties • The experimenter has experience with implementing the study so it flows smoothly • Can also assess effectiveness of the IV

13.6 Procedure 3/3 Back to Chapter Contents • Pilot study— is typically a must to insure that • Internet studies—complete it yourself in addition to pilot participants • Give you information on how it feels to be in this type of study • Give information on if the study works in your browser and if the data is returned in the desired way

13.7 Institutional Approval Back to Chapter Contents • Animal studies must receive approval from Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) • Looks at issues such as pain and discomfort to animals • Human studies must receive approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) • Must submit even if the study falls into the exempt(被豁免的) category • Primary concern is with human welfare

13.8 Data Collection Back to Chapter Contents • Primary rule is to adhere to the sequence established

13.9 Consent to Participate Back to Chapter Contents • Must get the participants’ consent to participate prior to using them as participants • Must prepare a “consent to participate form” that • Informs them of all aspects that may influence their decision to participate • Must be presented in a language they can understand • Assent must be obtained from minors • Only exception is when the study falls into the exempt category

13.10 Debriefing, or Postexperimental Interview 1/3 Back to Chapter Contents • Explaining all aspects of the experiment and answering any questions • Debriefing Functions • Ethical • Educational • Methodological • Sense of satisfaction from scientific contribution

13.10 Debriefing, or Postexperimental Interview 2/3 Back to Chapter Contents • How to Debrief • Types • Post-experimental survey • Interview

13.10 Debriefing, or Postexperimental Interview 3/3 Back to Chapter Contents • How to Debrief • How to structure debriefing • If deception is used, would first want to probe for suspicions (e.g. asking if they have any questions) • Next should explain reason for deception • Then should explain the entirestudy in detail • Last part of debriefing should be geared to convincing participant not to communicate the study to others

Data Collection: Institutional Approval, Research Participants, and Procedures