discussion
Bella edwards
Chapter2IntroductiontotheMethodsofScience.pptxChapter 2
Methods of Science
Methods of Science
Observational Methods
Naturalistic Observation
Correlation
Quasi-Experiment
Experimental Method
True Experiment
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Methods of Science
Naturalistic Observation
Observation of behavior in a more or less natural setting, without any attempt to intervene.
The situation is not manipulated or controlled by the investigator.
The situation has not been initiated or created by the investigator.
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Advantages of naturalistic observation
1. Allows observation of behavior exactly as it occurs in the real world.
Said to retain an element of ecological validity.
The situation being studied exists in the natural ecology of the species.
2. Helps to establish the external validity of the research findings.
If you see the behavior occurring in real life, it’s easier to say that the results from your study extend to the general population.
Easier to say that the things that you learn from your sampling of behavior describe the way things work for people outside of your sample.
3. Ethical considerations may prevent the manipulation of a certain variable, but it may be possible to observe this condition when it naturally occurs.
Ex. Reactions to traumatic stress. Psychologists who study reactions to school shootings. You obviously can’t cause these events to occur, but you can observe the results from events when they do occur.
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Correlation
Observe two characteristics about each person
Put one observation on the X-axis
Put second observation on the Y-axis
HARD ROCK MUSIC CREATES KILLER MICE!
David Merrell (1997), high school science fair project
What is the influence of hard-rock music on maze learning in mice?
Hard rock music will impair the ability of mice to navigate a maze.
Method
Allowed mice to navigate a maze for 10 minutes
David started playing music 10 hours a day to two randomly assigned groups:
Control group listened to no music
Group 1 listened to classical music
Group 2 listened to hard rock music
Mice were put through the maze three times a week for three weeks.
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HARD ROCK MUSIC CREATES KILLER MICE!
Results
Control group cut 5 minutes off of their time
Group 1 cut 8.5 minutes off their time
Group 2 took 20 minutes longer to navigate the maze
"I had to cut my project short because all the hard-rock mice killed each other … None of the classical mice did that at all."
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Experiment
Two or More Groups
Participants are RANDOMLY assigned to the groups
Each Group treated differently
Experimenter directly manipulates treatments
Behavior before, during, and/or after treatment is recorded
Independent Variable (IV): Difference in way groups are treated
Dependent Variable (DV): Measured Behavior of all Subjects
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Quasi-Experiment
Defining characteristic is that participants are NOT randomly assigned to groups.
Comparing one 3rd grade class that started a new way of teaching math with another third grade class that didn’t.
Within-subjects studies
A researcher might measure depression for all participants before starting an exercise program and then measure depression for the same people after the exercise program.
Subjects may be from Naturally Occurring Groups
Gender
A researcher cannot randomly assign you to be male or female for their study.
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Quantitative versus Qualitative
Quantitative = measured behavior in numbers with attempt to find consistent cause-effect processes
Qualitative = descriptive statements regarding subjective feelings, attitudes, beliefs
Methods of Science
Thomas Kuhn (1970)
Science does not progress by building incrementally on past discoveries
Science progresses in revolutions which punctuate the times of slow progression with sudden insight and paradigm shifts
