Methods of Psychology

OVERVIEWI. Scientific MethodsII. Experimental ProceduresIII. A Study of StereotypesIV. Field ExperimentsV. Other Methods of Studying BehaviorVI. Ethics in ExperimentationVII. Psychology in your life

I. Scientific MethodsAspirin effectiveness study

A. Placebo : a “fake medicine” that has no active ingredients and works by the power of suggestion (patient may expect to get better)

A. Researchers expectations can influence outcome

i. double-blind study: when neither participants or researchers know to which group subject belongs

II. Experimental Procedures Effects of the moon – abnormal behavior?

A. Hypothesis – expected resultB. Subjects – people in experiment

subject selection: random, representative sample of larger population (size, composition, methods of selection)

C. Variables – can change (vary)as one variable changes, how does the other?

Isolate particular variables, control for irrelevant variables to obtain most accurate results

i. Confounding variables

III. A Study of StereotypesA. Women/Men as managers experimentB. Variablesi. Independent - factor experimenter

manipulates (input)ii. Dependent – factor that with change or vary

(depends on independent…output)

IV. Field Experiments-takes places outside of the laboratory

A. Studying Jet Lag – disrupts normal cycle of behavior

i. Experimental group – crossed time zonesii. Control group – flew equal amount of time, but

did not cross time zones (flew south)iii. Independent variable – alteration to usual

light-dark cyclesiv. Dependent variable – result of alteration;

fatigue,

IV. Field ExperimentsA. Jet LagB. Fighting Insomnia Example (p. 38-39)

Experiments allow us to determine cause and effect.

Lab experiment: researcher can be completely objective, but somewhat artificial setting

Field experiment: setting more realistic, but often difficult to control all the variables

V. Other Methods of Studying BehaviorA. Survey+ Sample size - Low response rate, representativeness, wording

(bias)

B. Naturalistic Observation+ Natural behavior- Incorrect interpretation

C. InterviewD. Case StudyE. Psychological Tests

V. Other Methods of Studying BehaviorA. SurveyB. Naturalistic ObservationC. Interview

+ Personal information - Not completely honest

D. Case Study: Freud’s preferred method (and your final project)

+ Background information - Not completely honest, Researchers bias

E. Psychological Tests + Accurate, objective - Limited amount of information

V. Other Methods of Studying BehaviorF. Longitudinal + Developmental Studies - Expensive, time consuming

G. Cross Sectional Studies+ Accurate representation of population, less time

consuming - not always appropriate

H. IQ Test Resultslongitudinal: IQ remains constantcross-sectional: IQ declines as we age

VI. Ethics of ExperimentationA. Decline/withdraw participationB. Openness/honesty – debrief afterwardsC. ConfidentialityD. Identify risks/consequences – address bothE. Experimenting with Animals

most are treated humanely

Competence• Maintain high standards, integrity• Provide services, teach and conduct research only within

boundaries of competence• Stay up to date on current research

Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity• Aware of culture and individual differences• Avoid pain and suffering (or minimize)

Sexual Harassment/Multiple Relationships• Avoid!• Do not abandon clients

Confidentiality• Creating, storing, accessing, and disposing of records• May be violated to protect client or others from harm

Institutional Approval• From host institution (college, university) or organizations (Institutional Review

Boards: IRBs)• Only conduct approved research

Informed consent/Withdrawal• Easily understood language describing nature of research• Identify foreseeable consequences• Participants may leave at any time

Inducements• $-not excessive• Can not offer extra credit

Deception• Only if justified, approved by IRB• Must be debriefed as soon as possible• Counseling options offered

Plagiarism/Publication Credit• Avoid plagiarism• Take credit only for work actually performed or contributed to, give credit where

credit is due

Care and Use of Animals in Research• Treat humanely (and most are)• Minimize discomfort, infection, illness, pain• Only when no alternative procedure• Use appropriate anesthesia in surgical

procedures• When life needs to be terminated, done

rapidly with minimal pain

Psychology in your life p. 48-49• Socialized sex differences• Gender differences in spatial skills• Video game test

How to report experimental findings Graphical Analysis (trials) Correlation – how they are related

• Graphs give visual correlation• Reading interpreting and reporting• Correlation coefficients

0 = no relationship 1 = perfect relationship +/- .7 = strong relationship Positive/negative correlation

The Normal Curve • Getting people into groups• Normal frequency distribution

Mean, Median, Mode• Representative numbers

Probability, Chance, Odds• P=.5 (chance of tossing heads/tails)• Significance – probability of occurring by chance

P = .oo1 p = .01 p= .05