Download module 2 outline

Why is Research Important?
Critical thinking and research are more valuable than common sense in deriving answers
Scientific method- The means through psychology seeks answers. It involves
Observation, recording data, conducting experiments, and testing a hypothesis.
Observation and Bias
Confirmation bias- a tendency to seek search for information that confirms a
preconception while ignoring evidence that doesn’t.
Critical thinking- used to examine assumptions, discern hidden values, evaluate
evidence and assess conclusions
Participant bias- a tendency for researchers to behave in a certain way because they
know they are being observed or they believe they know what the researcher wants
Naturalistic observation-observation without controlling or affecting the environment
Case Studies- a research technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hopes
of revealing universal principles.
Correlation- 2 variables follow in a pattern, but may not be related
Correlational study- research project strategy that investigate the degree to which
2 variables are related to each other
Positively correlated- have a positive cause and effect relationship
Negatively correlated- have a negative cause and effect relationship
Surveys
Survey method: research technique that questions a sample of people to collect information
About their attitudes or behaviors
Social desirability-answering a survey in a way in which a person thinkers the
Surveyor want to her
Population-the entire group of people which is surveyed
Random sample- a sample fairly representative of the population
Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Studies
Longitudinal study- A research technique that follows the same group of
individuals over a long period of time
Cross-sectional study-a research technique that compares individuals from
Different age groups at one time
Experiment
Experiment- only method that allows us to draw conclusions about cause and effect
Relationships. Requires researchers to control the variables and test them.
Hypothesis- a testable prediction
Operational definitions- an explanation of the exact procedures used to make a
variable specific and measurable for research purposes
Independent variable- the variable that the research actively manipulates
Dependent variable- The variable that should show the effect of the independent variable
Experimental group-the participants in an experiment who are exposed to the
Independent variable
Control group- the participants in an experiment who are not exposed to the
Independent variable
Random assignment- a procedure for creating groups that allows the researcher
To control for individual differences among research participants
Confounding variables-in an experiment, a variable other than the independent variable
That could produce a change in the dependent variable
Blind procedure- the participants are not told the hypothesis until after the data is
collected
Double-blind procedure- both the data collectors and the participants do not know the
expected outcome
Placebo- an inactive pill that has no known effect
Data analysis- analyzing the numbers using statistics to find out if the hypothesis is
correct
Statistically significant- if the possibility that the differences between groups would
occur by chance alone is no more than 5% (a big difference between 2 large groups)
Replication-being able to repeat an experiment
Research Ethics
Human research- there must be informed consent, the right to be protected from harm
And discomfort, the right to confidentiality, and the right to debriefing.
Animal research-Animals used in research must be properly taken care of in the
Process. Also, to what degree should animals be used for research?