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Research Methods
Two Major Categories to Begin Research
– Both categories take place sequentially
• Formulating an idea • Testing the idea
Population:
– Entire set of individuals to which generalizations will be made based on an experimental sample
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Experimental Methods: The Remedy
– Defined in terms of the specific operation or procedure used to determine its presence
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Research Variables
Variable
– In an experimental setting, a factor that varies in amount and kind
– The doctrine that all events—physical, behavioral, and mental—are “determined” by specific causal factors that are potentially knowable
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Independent Variable
– Values are free to vary independently of any other variable in the situation
Dependent Variable
– Values are the result of changes in one or more independent variables
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Research Methods
Scientific Method
– Set of procedures used for gathering and interpreting objective information in a way that minimizes error and yields dependable generalizations
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Experimental Method
Confounding Variable
– A variable that affects a participants behavior
Expectancy Effects
– Results that occur when a researcher or observer subtly communicates to the participants the kind of behavior he or she expects, therefore, creating the expected reaction and/or outcome
– A tentative and testable explanation(s) of the relationship between two (or more) events or variables
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Research Methods
Concept of Determinism
Dependent Variable
– A variable that the experimenter measures to assess the impact of a variation in an independent variable – The dependent outcome that is observed from the manipulation of the independent variable
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Observer Bias: The Remedy
Public Verifiability
– All data and methods must be eventually open to others for review and scientific inspection – Researchers must have the opportunity to inspect, criticize, replicate, confirm and/or disprove the data and all methods used
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Experimental Method: The Remedy
Double-blind Control Placebo Control
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Experimental Method: The Remedy
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Research Variables
Independent Variable
– A factor that is manipulated by the researcher – The causal part of the relationship
Chapter 2
Research Methods in Psychology
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Chapter 2 Main Points
The Process of Research Psychological Measurement Ethical Issues in Human and Animal Research Becoming a Wiser Research Consumer
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Experimental Method: The Remedy
Sample:
– Subset of a population selected as participants in an experiment
Representation Sample:
– A subset of the population being studied
Between-subjects Design
– Different groups of participants are randomly assigned to experimental conditions or to control conditions
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Observer Bias
Is this cup half empty or half-full?
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Research Methods
Theory
– An organized set of concepts that explains a phenomenon or set of phenomena
Hypothesis or Hypotheses
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Experimental Method: The Remedy
Control Procedures
– Consistent procedures for giving instructions, responses, and holding all other variables constant except those being systematically varied
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Experimental Method
Placebo Effect
– Occurs when the experimental participants change their behavior in the absence of any kind of experimental manipulation