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Lecture 4 Research Methodology

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Lecture 4 Research Methodology

Uploaded by

Sheri Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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RESEARCH METHODS

IN PSYCHOLOGY
INTRODUCING
PSYCHOLOGY
• Psychology is  the scientific study of behavior and mental
processes.

• Studying Psychology offers practical solutions to everyday problems

• Psychologists use the scientific method to make observations


INTRODUCING
PSYCHOLOGY
• Psychologists seek to observe, describe, explain,
predict, and modify behavior and mental
processes
• (4 goals – will be discussed on next slide)
• Psychologists rely on research to learn whether
certain methods will work before they use them
to help people
INTRODUCING
PSYCHOLOGY
• 4 Goals of Psychology
1. Description – describe particular behaviors by
careful observations
2. Explanation – explain behaviors by
conducting experiments
3. Prediction – predict when a behavior that is
being studied will happen in the future
4. Change – change inappropriate behavior
INTRODUCING
PSYCHOLOGY
• Psychologists work in many different fields but they all focus on
studying and explaining behavior and mental processes

• Behavior is defined as any action that people can observe or


measure, such as walking, talking, sleeping, and eating
THE SCIENCE OF PSYCH
• Scientific Method  consists of 6 carefully planned
steps
1. Identify question and literature review
2. Develop a testable hypothesis
3. Select a research method and collect data
4. Analyze the data and accept or reject the hypothesis
5. Publish, replicate and seek scientific review
6. Build a theory
THE SCIENCE OF PSYCH
• Ethical Guidelines when experimenting
• Psychologists must comply with extremely
strict ethical guidelines
• The American Psychological Association
(APA) has published specific guidelines that
must be followed
• There are three areas that are addressed by
the APA
THE SCIENCE OF PSYCH
• Ethical Guidelines when experimenting
1. Human participants  informed consent,
voluntary participation, debriefing,
confidentiality, and use of students as
subjects
• #1 is the most rigorous guideline because it deals
with the rights of people being studied
2. Animal Rights  cruelty to animals
3. Clients in therapy  confidentiality
THE SCIENCE OF PSYCH
• When to use Animals in Research
• Only a small number of psychological studies
involve animals
• Psychologists use animals only when there is
no alternative and when they believe the
benefit outweighs the harm
• Most psychological studies that use animals do
not harm the animals
RESEARCH METHODS
• We know, psychology research can only be
basic or applied
• There are 4 methods of research within
psychology
1. Experimental
2. Descriptive
3. Correlational
4. Biological
RESEARCH METHODS
• Experimental Research is the only method of
the four that can identify cause and effect
• Experimental research consists of several
variables:
• Independent Variables: factors the experimenter
manipulates
• Dependent Variables: measurable behaviors of the
participants
• Experimental controls: include control condition -
participants are treated identically to participants
in experimental condition, except that the
independent variable is not applied to them
RESEARCH METHODS
• Experimental Research
• In the experimental condition: all participants
are exposed to the independent variable
• Experimental Group: group that receives a
treatment in an experiment
• Control Group: group that receives no
treatment in an experiment
RESEARCH METHODS
• Descriptive Research: includes several types of
studies to gather data
• Naturalistic Observation is used to study
behavior in its natural habitat
• Surveys use tests, questionnaires, and interviews
to sample a wide variety of behaviors and
attitudes (must choose people carefully)
• Case study in-depth study of a single research
participant
RESEARCH METHODS
• Surveys
• Psychologists conduct surveys by asking people to
fill out written questionnaires or by interviewing
people orally
• By interviewing people with direct questions
psychologists can get information about people’s
attitudes and behaviors
RESEARCH METHODS
• Problems with Surveys: the findings of interviews and
questionnaires may not be completely accurate because…
• People may not be honest about their attitudes
or behavior
• People may limit their responses for privacy
reasons
• People may say what they think the
interviewers want to hear
RESEARCH METHODS
• Correlational Research
• Allows scientists to determine the degree of
relationship between variables
• Positive, negative and zero correlations are discussed
when using this type of research
RESEARCH METHODS
• Correlation is a major relationship within
psychology

• It CANNOT show a Cause and Effect Relationship

• Just because two things are related does not mean


one causes the other
RESEARCH METHODS
• Biological Research: the scientific study of
psychology
• Studies the brain and nervous system
• Tests used in biological research include:
• Electrical recordings of brain activity (EEG)

• Computed tomography (CT)

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

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