psychology

PSY-101: Principles of Psychology

Chapter 2: Psychological Research

WHY IS RESEARCH IMPORTANT? ● We need a way of knowing if our beliefs are

supported ● Research that uses the scientific method allows us

to make predictions based upon our beliefs, and then observe whether or not those predictions come true under controlled conditions ○ Allows us to separate fact from opinion so we

can make better decisions

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD Five main steps

1. Identify question of interest 2. Formulate an explanation (i.e., a theory) 3. Make a specific prediction (i.e., a hypothesis) 4. Collect and analyze data from an observation

or experiment 5. Communicate the findings (then back to step 1)

APPROACHES TO RESEARCH The major research methods

● Case Study ● Naturalistic Observation ● Survey Research ● Correlational Methods ● Experimental Methods

CASE STUDY ● An in-depth, intensive investigation of a single

person or a small group ● Get LOTS of data about the condition being

studied ● However, can’t generalize findings to other

people

NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION ● Observe naturally occurring behavior

○ What do people actually do? ● Very valid (i.e., accurate) results ● However, no control over the study

○ The researcher just watches ● Researcher should be hidden and stay as

objective as possible

SURVEY RESEARCH ● A sample of people is chosen to represent a larger

group of interest (i.e., the population) ○ Asked a series of questions about their

knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors ● Ideally achieve a large representative sample

○ Allows for generalizations to the population ● We assume accurate self-report data

CORRELATIONAL METHODS ● Two variables are examined to determine

whether they are associated (or “correlated”) ○ As one variable changes, does the other

change along with it? ● Great for making predictions ● However, we CANNOT infer causality

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS ● Investigates the causal relationship between two

or more variables by: 1. Randomly splitting a sample into two groups 2. Changing one variable within only one of those

groups in a controlled situation 3. Observing the effects of that change by

comparing the two groups on another variable

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS Independent Variable (IV) ● The thing that is changed (i.e., manipulated) by the

experimenter ● The two groups are made different ONLY on this variable

Dependent Variable (DV) ● The thing that is measured ● Expected to change along with changes of the IV ● We use this to compare the two groups after the manipulation

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS Experimental group ● Receives the change (i.e., manipulated IV) Control group ● Is not changed (i.e., no manipulated IV)

We compare the experimental group with the control group on the DV to see if they’re different ● If different, we argue that the difference must have been due to the

manipulation (i.e., the changed IV caused the change in the DV)

RESEARCH ETHICS Ethical Guidelines: ● Protect people from physical and mental harm ● Protect participants’ privacy ● Assure that participation is voluntary ● Inform participants about procedures

Research must be approved by an IRB (Institutional Review Board) ● An impartial committee convened to determine whether or not the

research study follows ethical guidelines ● Weren’t necessarily established until 1979

TO WRAP UP... ● NOT ALL RESEARCH IS SCIENTIFIC! ● Please be critical of everything you see and hear

○ Have some healthy skepticism ● Just because someone has done “research” in no

way implies that it was methodologically valid research

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The material for these slides was adapted from:

Introduction to Psychology An open-access text written and edited

by multiple individuals and organizations

Greg Mullin, 2022 - Licensed CC BY - SA