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1 What is research? To systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest. Psychological research is different from research in a natural science, such as physics or chemistry ? Because There are no constants in psychology Goals of Psychological Research • Description of social behavior Are people who grow up in warm climates different from those in cold climates? Establish a relationship between cause & effect Does heat cause higher amounts of aggression? Develop theories about why people behave the way that they do We dislike hindus/jews to feel better about ourselves Requirements of Psychological Research Objective Observation Control Duplication and verification Limitations of psychological research Not all Behavior can be Studied Observing behavior can Change it. Artificial Settings College Students as Subjects Applications In psychological research, the researcher is often trying to show that some variables have CAUSAL EFFECTS upon others. Creating effective therapeutic treatments, more successful negotiation tactics, and greater understanding amongst groups of people Understanding market trends Greater understanding of consumer behaviour Helps solving labor problems The Process of Doing Research First, select a topic Then, search the literature Find out what others have done that may be applicable to your area of interest Next, formulate hypotheses State the relationship between two variables Hypothesis is a prediction or an assumption, given in the form of a statement. It helps us in testing the validity of the theories. Theories & hypotheses allow the psychologists to make sense of unorganized, separate observations, & to place them in a structured form. The Process of Doing Research It might be hypothesised, for example, that “college students who have firm career goals achieve higher GPAs than those who do not have firm career goals.” It is hypothesized that there is a difference in job satisfaction between those who receive regular feedback on their job performance and those who receive irregular feedback.” It might be hypothesised that the more violent programmes that children watch on TV or cinema the more violent the children actually become. It is hypothesized that children of immigrants and children of native born citizens will differ in their attitudes toward school.” It is predicted that there will be a positive relationship between self-esteem and academic performance, such that as self-esteem increases academic performance will also increase. The Process of Doing Research Then pick your research method Experimental vs. correlational (Design) Field vs. laboratory (Setting) Finally, collect & analyze your data Archival Research Existing data, such as: census documents college records newspaper clippings … are examined to test a hypothesis. 12 Survey Research A sample of people chosen to represent a larger group of interest —population —is asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, or attitudes. Survey researchers strive for random sampling. 13 The Case Study An in-depth, intensive investigation of a single individual or a small group. Often includes psychological testing 14 Correlational Studies Two sets of variables are examined to determine whether they are associated, or “correlated.” Variables Behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change, or vary, in some way Correlation coefficient Positive Negative 15 TV Viewing and Aggression 16 Experimental Research Experiment Investigating relationship between two or more variables by: 1. changing one variable in a controlled situation 2. observing the effects of that change on other aspects of the situation Experimental manipulation 17 Experimental Research Experimental Groups and Control Groups Treatment Manipulation implemented by the experimenter Experimental group Receives a treatment Control group Receives no treatment Rules out other reasons for change 18 Experimental Research Independent and Dependent Variables Independent (IV) The condition that is manipulated by an experimenter Dependent (DV) The variable that is measured and is expected to change as a result of experimenter’s manipulation of the independent variable 19 Experimental Research Random Assignment of Participants To make the experiment a valid test of the hypothesis Random Assignment to Condition Participants are assigned to different experimental groups or “conditions” on the basis of chance 20 Experiment Example 21 Experimental Research Significant Outcome Using statistical analysis, researchers can determine whether a numeric difference is a real difference or is due merely to chance Replication Repeating experiment Meta-analysis 22 Research Method: Advantages & Shortcomings 23 Ethics of Research Protecting Participants APA Ethical Guidelines: Protect from physical and mental harm Participants’ right to privacy regarding behavior Assurance that participation is voluntary Informing participants about procedures 24 The Ethics of Research Informed Consent Participants sign a document affirming that they know: the basic outlines of the study what their participation will involve the risks the experiment may hold that their participation is purely voluntary they may terminate the study at any time 25 Should Animals Be Used in Research? Procedures that subject animals to distress are permitted only when an alternative procedure is unavailable and when the research is justified by its prospective value 26