Download methods in behavioral research

METHODS IN BEHAVIORAL
RESEARCH
NINTH EDITION
PAUL C. COZBY
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 2
WHERE TO START
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Discuss how a hypothesis differs from a
prediction
Describe the different sources of ideas for
research, including common sense,
observation, theories, past research, and
practical problems
Identify the two functions of a theory
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Summarize the fundamentals of conducting
library research in psychology, including the
use of PsycINFO
Summarize the information included in the
abstract, introduction, method, results, and
discussion sections of research articles
HYPOTHESES AND
PREDICTIONS
Hypothesis: A tentative idea or question that
is waiting for evidence to support or refute
it
Prediction: A statement that makes an
assertion concerning what will occur in a
particular research investigation
WHO WE STUDY: A NOTE ON
TERMINOLOGY
Participants (APA preferred)
Subjects
Respondents
Informants
SOURCES OF IDEAS
Common Sense
Observation of the World Around Us
Theories
Organize and explain
Generate new knowledge
Modified by new research
Past Research
Practical Problems
LIBRARY RESEARCH
 The Nature of Journals
 Where researchers publish the results of their studies
 Psychological Abstracts
 Abstracts published in hardcopy each month
 PsycINFO
 Electronic index of all abstracts from 1800s to present
 PsycFIRST
 Electronic index of all abstracts published in last 3 years
LIRARY RESEARCH
Some PsychINFO search strategies
Strategy 1: Use fields such as TI and AU.
Example: (divorce) in TI requires that a term appear in the title
Strategy 2: Use AND to limit search
Example: divorce AND child requires both terms to be included
Strategy 3: Use OR to expand search.
Example: divorce OR breakup includes both terms.
Strategy 4: Use NOT to exclude search terms.
Example: shyness NOT therapy excludes shyness with therapy
Strategy 5: Use the wildcard asterisk (*)
Example: child* finds any word that begins with these letters
LIBRARY RESEARCH
Other Electronic Search Resources
FirstSearch
Sociological Abstracts
MEDLINE
ERIC
PsycARTICLES
http://www.apa.org/psycarticles/
LIBRARY RESEARCH
• Other Indexes
• Science Citation Index (SCI)
• Includes biology chemistry, biomedicine, and
pharmacology
• Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI)
• Includes behavioral and social science such as
sociology and criminal justice
LIBRARY RESEARCH
Internet Searches
Scholar.google.com
Professional meeting searches
Evaluating web information
Site sponsor
Credentials of the webmaster
Timelines
Links (to reputable organizations)
ANATOMY OF A RESEARCH
ARTICLE
Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
ANATOMY OF A RESEARCH
ARTICLE
• Abstract
• A summary of the research report
• 120 words or less
• Includes the hypothesis, procedure, and the
broad pattern of results
ANATOMY OF A RESEARCH
ARTICLE
• Introduction
• Outlines the problems investigated
• Past research and theories relevant to the
problems described
• Formal hypotheses or specific expectations are
introduced and connected to past research
ANATOMY OF A RESEARCH
ARTICLE
• Method section
• Subsections depend of complexity of the design
•
•
•
•
Overview of design
Characteristics of participants
Procedure
Equipment or testing materials
ANATOMY OF A RESEARCH
ARTICLE
•
Results section
•
Findings presented three ways:
1. Description in narrative form
2. Description in statistical language
3. Material in table or graphs
ANATOMY OF A RESEARCH
ARTICLE
• Discussion section
• Review research from various perspectives
• Present methodological weaknesses and/or
strengths
• Explain how the results compare with past
results
• Include suggestions for practical applications
• Include suggestions for future research on the
topic
How Do You Know If An Article Is “Peer-Reviewed?”
The journal has “instructions to authors” about the submission guidelines
and peer-review process.
The article is written by the researchers that conducted the study.
In addition to the title and author information, the article includes abstract,
introduction, method, results, discussion and reference sections.
Experts in the author’s field review the theoretical basis, methodology,
statistical analyses and interpretation of findings.
The editor and/or reviewers decide whether or not to accept the article for
publication.
The intended audience is scholars that have knowledge in or are interested in
the field.
The article is not written for profit.