Research Methods in Psychology

2.3 Assignment. Correlation Research Presentation

Getting Started

In its simplest form, a correlational study measures and determines the relationship between two variables. Correlation designs are not as rigorous as the experimental design but, if done well, are more rigorous than other designs, such as descriptive methods. Correlation studies can show positive correlations (as one variable increases the other increases too), negative (inverse) correlations (as one correlations increases the other variable decreases), or no correlations. In this type of design, the variables are observed as naturally occurring patterns. The variables are not manipulated or controlled, as in an experimental design. You will examine the correlation design in more detail in this assignment.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Evaluate the correlation research design.

Resources

· Video: Correlation and Causation: Illustrating the Difference—Core Concepts in Psychology

· Website: OCLS Introduction to Research Guide

· Website: OCLS Article Databases

· Website: OCLS Evaluating Sources Page

Background Information

In this assignment, you will examine and evaluate the correlation research design in the format of a narrated PowerPoint presentation. This will afford you the opportunity to do a deeper analysis of the correlational design, as well as build on your professional narration skills.

Instructions

1. Watch the video,  Correlation and Causation: Illustrating the Difference—Core Concepts in Psychology  (3:26). (This video includes a transcript.)

a. OpenAthens will prompt you to type in Indiana Wesleyan University to log in and watch the video.

2. Create a narrated presentation that contains at least six main slides wherein you explain and review the correlational research design.

3. Your presentation should contain:

a. An overview and summary of correlational design

b. How you understand the values and promises of correlational design

c. The detriments of using correlational design

d. At least three significant correlational research studies in the field of positive psychology, exploring their contributions to the field and explaining why they are significant

e. Introduction, conclusion, and references slides (not included in the six-slide count)

f. Formatting according to APA style and best practices for presentations

4. You may find the following IWU Library resources essential as you create your presentation:

a. OCLS Introduction to Research Guide

b. OCLS Article Databases

c. Use  Academic Writer  to write your papers in APA Style or go to the  OCLS APA Style Page  and scroll down to the APA 7th Edition Paper Template.

d. You may also review the  OCLS Evaluating Resources Page , where you can examine the criteria for credible Internet research websites.

2.5 Assignment Journal. TED Style Talk Reflection Journal. Progress

Getting Started

Journal writing provides a more informal opportunity to reflect on learning, growth, and potential. Journals can also help strengthen writing skills. They afford a time and space for you to do more reflective thinking about topics related to the material, as well as to your own personal and professional goals.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Integrate previous insights from your Odyssey Plan and positive psychology into your TED Talks script.

Resources

· File: Personal Odyssey Plan Reflections

· File: Personal Hero’s Journey Reflections

· File: Ted Style Talk Reflection Journal

Background Information

Recall the work you completed on your Odyssey Plan, as well as previous journal entries in which you reflected on the Hero’s Journey. In this journal entry, you will add to those reflections and incorporate material you have learned thus far about positive psychology. Further, you will describe your vision for your life, as well as some goals you have. You can tie these together to build on your ideas for your TED Style Talk.

In this assignment, you will add to your TED Style Talk. You will add this as a new journal entry to your previous journal entries, but submit only this new entry to your instructor.

Instructions

1. Open your ongoing Ted Style Talk Reflection Journal that you have saved in a Word document.

2. Title this new journal entry  PSY-535 2.5 Ted Style Talk, <Day, Month Year>. As you write your journal during this session, reflect on the following questions:

a. In previous courses, you were exposed to both the Hero’s Journey and the fact that you will eventually develop a TED Style Talk in the final course in this program. In this journal entry, you will continue thinking and writing about your TED Style Talk by creating a narrative that incorporates some of what you learned about lifespan development, the history of psychology, life coaching and positive psychology thus far.

b. You will also write about what you envision for your life as you move toward realizing some of your life goals.

c. Reflect on your Odyssey Plan, which you created in PSY-520. How have you applied that plan and what has changed in your plan? 

3. Your entry should be a minimum of 400 words.

4. When you've completed this assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit your Ted Style Talk Reflection Journal Word document to your instructor using the Assignment submission page by the end of the workshop .

5. Reminder : You will be participating in a call with your Instructor in the next workshop, so make a note of any thoughts, ideas, or issues you have about your TED Style Talk during this activity and talk about them in Workshop Three.

2.2 Discussion. Correlation Research. Pros and Cons

Getting Started

As with all research designs, correlational research has advantages and disadvantages. Of course, one of the main disadvantages is that it does not provide information about cause-and-effect relationships. Unfortunately, many people, especially the public, tend to infer cause-and-effect outcomes from correlational research. Advantages of correlational research are that the outcomes are more likely to apply to a wider group or population (generalizability), can identify specific areas for future research (especially experimental designs), and help researchers better understand the strength and direction of relations between variables.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Evaluate the pros and cons of correlational research.

Resources

· Textbook:  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology

· Article: Principles of Scientific Research: Correlational Research

· Article: Principles of Scientific Research: Correlations and Causations

Optional

· Webpage: Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Background Information

In this discussion, you will explore the correlation research design. This discussion introduces correlation design, which will assist you in other assignments for this workshop.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

2. Review page 238 in your textbook,  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology.

3. Review the following resources:

a. Principles of Scientific Research: Correlational Research

b. Principles of Scientific Research: Correlations and Causations

c. A Correlational Test of the Relationship Between Posttraumatic Growth, Religion, and Cognitive Processing

d. Optional webpage:  Industrial and Organizational Psychology

4. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion prompts:

a. What are the pros and cons of correlational research?

b. How is correlational research conducted? Is it ‘controlled?’

c. What types of patterns can be found using correlational methods?

5. Your initial post:

a. Should be between 400 to 500 words.

b. Is due by the end of the fourth day of the workshop.

6. Read and respond to at least two of your classmates' postings, as well as instructor follow-up questions directed to you, by the end of the workshop.

7. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

2.4 Assignment. The Literature Review Section

Getting Started

Before actually conducting a research study or experiment, every researcher must write a research proposal. These are written to establish all the components of a proposed study, as well as to submit to Institutional Review Boards (IRB) as well as to funders to demonstrate the value of the proposed study , Thus, you will write a research proposal for this course, providing you the opportunity to gain a sound understanding of the different aspects and components of research studies  Note that you won’t actually complete the study.

When you have completely finished your research proposal, your final proposal will contain the following sections:

1. A brief literature review (4-5 pages)

2. A description of the methods you will use in your study (1 page)

3. A description of the population or participants you will use (1 page)

4. A description of ethical concerns and protective measures that will be used (1 page)

5. A closing summary and conclusion (2-3 paragraphs)

6. Reference page (a list of your references in APA format)

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Draft one part of a research proposal.

Resources

· Website: Writing in Psychology Overview

· Website: Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Types of Research Designs

· Video: Psychological Research: Crash Course Psychology #2

· Website: OCLS Introduction to Research Guide

· Website: OCLS Article Databases

· Website: OCLS Evaluating Sources Page

Optional Resource

· Website: APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

· Website: APA.org

Background Information

For this assignment, you will only be writing a brief review of the literature. We will work on the other sections later. Your review will be based on the articles you found in workshop one. Write about what you have learned from the research and what your research question will be. Note: In scholarly writing the use of “I” is not acceptable. Phrases such as “I believe” and/or “In my opinion” are not used in scholarly writing. For example, do not say “I believe that the sun is going to shine today.” Rather, say: There is a 60% chance of sunshine today (Veach, 2019). You see, your statements should be just that: statements or claims supported by the literature. After you state you claim then cite it using the last names and year of publication. Place the period after the parenthesis.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

2. Review the following resources on research designs and writing proposals:

a. Go to the  Purdue Owl Online Writing Lab . Navigate to "Subject-Specific Writing">"Writing in Social Sciences">"Writing in Psychology: Experimental Report Writing.">Then read the "Writing in Psychology Overview."

b. Review the studies you found in workshop one. Find additional articles if you need more information for your brief literature review.

c. Note that professional literature reviews are based on many, many research articles.

3. You may also review the  OCLS Evaluating Resources Page , where you can examine the criteria for credible Internet research websites.

2.3 Assignment. Correlation Research Presentation

Getting Started

In its simplest form, a correlational study measures and determines the relationship between two variables. Correlation designs are not as rigorous as the experimental design but, if done well, are more rigorous than other designs, such as descriptive methods. Correlation studies can show positive correlations (as one variable increases the other increases too), negative (inverse) correlations (as one correlations increases the other variable decreases), or no correlations. In this type of design, the variables are observed as naturally occurring patterns. The variables are not manipulated or controlled, as in an experimental design. You will examine the correlation design in more detail in this assignment.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Evaluate the correlation research design.

Resources

· Video: Correlation and Causation: Illustrating the Difference—Core Concepts in Psychology

· Website: OCLS Introduction to Research Guide

· Website: OCLS Article Databases

· Website: OCLS Evaluating Sources Page

Background Information

In this assignment, you will examine and evaluate the correlation research design in the format of a narrated PowerPoint presentation. This will afford you the opportunity to do a deeper analysis of the correlational design, as well as build on your professional narration skills.

Instructions

1. Watch the video,  Correlation and Causation: Illustrating the Difference—Core Concepts in Psychology  (3:26). (This video includes a transcript.)

a. OpenAthens will prompt you to type in Indiana Wesleyan University to log in and watch the video.

2. Create a narrated presentation that contains at least six main slides wherein you explain and review the correlational research design.

3. Your presentation should contain:

a. An overview and summary of correlational design

b. How you understand the values and promises of correlational design

c. The detriments of using correlational design

d. At least three significant correlational research studies in the field of positive psychology, exploring their contributions to the field and explaining why they are significant

e. Introduction, conclusion, and references slides (not included in the six-slide count)

f. Formatting according to APA style and best practices for presentations

4. You may find the following IWU Library resources essential as you create your presentation:

a. OCLS Introduction to Research Guide

b. OCLS Article Databases

c. Use  Academic Writer  to write your papers in APA Style or go to the  OCLS APA Style Page  and scroll down to the APA 7th Edition Paper Template.

d. You may also review the  OCLS Evaluating Resources Page , where you can examine the criteria for credible Internet research websites.