Research Methods in Psychology

5.1 Discussion. The Body of Christ

Getting Started

Consider this passage of scripture from 1 Corinthians 12:

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

What does this mean for those who “drink of one Spirit”? Do we act as one body, alive and working, living, doing the will of our Living Lord? Or are we, the body, like dry bones—separated from one another with little to no flesh, no breath, and thus no real life?

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

· Discuss your perspective of the Body of Christ.

· Identify your spiritual gifts and note how you use them.

Resources

· Bible

Background Information

Paul continues to write to the church at Corinth:

…so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.

But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

Perhaps this passage is speaking about even more than spiritual gifts—how we treat those who are different from ourselves. Have you ever found yourself with little patience for others who do not share the same perspective on life or who disagree with you? What do you say to others who do not share your same values? What do you do? How do you treat them?

Instructions

1. Read the Devotional on this page and reflect on the above passage from 1 Corinthians.

2. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion questions:

a. Share your perspective on what it means to be a part of one Body, the Body of Christ.

b. Identify and then share a time when you had to interact with someone very different from yourself.

3. 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.

c. Provide clarification to classmates’ questions and provide insight into the discussion.

5.3 Assignment. The Research Proposal

Getting Started

Thus far, you have learned about the longitudinal, correlational, and experimental research designs. You have developed a clear research question and have written your literature review, methods, and participants sections for your research proposal. Now it is time to pull all of the sections together into one integrated proposal.

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

· Write an abbreviated research proposal.

Resources

· Use your previous research question, literature review, methods and participants sections for this assignment

· Review all of the comments and suggestions written by your instructor and make the necessary changes to each section

· Review the articles that you found on your topic of interest

Background Information

Research Proposals are written and submitted to Institutional Review Boards (IRB) prior to conducting any research. The IRB exists to protect participants from harm, to ensure the safety and appropriateness of the study, to make suggestions for improvement and to help researchers to adhere to ethical guidelines. Thus, the research proposal is crucial to professional researchers and investigators.

Instructions

1. Write a draft of your completed Research Proposal. Include these sections:

a. APA cover page

b. An abstract of about 300 words that gives an overview of your proposal

c. 5-page literature review (stating your research questions or hypothesis and using the revisions suggested by your instructor)

d. 2-page methods section (using the revisions suggested by your instructor)

e. 2- page participants section (using the revisions suggested by your instructor)

f. 1-page summary of your proposal stating what your research would add to the body of literature

g. Reference page or pages (double-spaced per APA format

2. Use Times New Roman 12-point font. Double-space all of your work.

3. Use scholarly language and refrain from using “I” statements (first person).

4. Grammarly will note that you are using Passive Voice. This is as it should be. Use Passive Voice.

5. Support your claims with citations. Citations consist of the author’s (or authors’) last names and the dates of publication.

5.2 Discussion. Meta-Analysis

Getting Started

Thus far, you have learned about the longitudinal, correlational, and experimental research designs. In this workshop, you will dig into another type of design—the meta-analysis (also known as a systematic review). Because you need to learn about this type of research for yourself, this workshop won’t go into specific details; however, you will learn about the value and purpose of meta-analyses, along with how researchers decide the requirements of a systematic review.

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

· Evaluate meta-analysis research methods.

Resources

· Textbook:  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology

· Article: Ingroup Favoritism in Cooperation: A Meta-Analysis

· Video: Intro to Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

· Article: What Is Meta-Analysis?

Background Information

What is meta-analysis? Why is it important? How do researchers go about conducting a meta-analysis? You will discuss these topics, along with learning from your peers’ questions and responses, in this discussion. Furthermore, meta-analyses can greatly assist with providing a big picture of a particular construct that may relate to your capstone project.

Instructions

1. Review  Chapter 9  in your textbook,  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology, about meta-analysis of longitudinal research.

2. Read the article,  Ingroup Favoritism in Cooperation: A Meta-Analysis .

3. Watch the video,  Intro to Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses  (16:56). Or you may read the transcript.

4. Read the article,  What Is Meta-Analysis?

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

a. Describe the value and purpose of meta-analyses.

b. How does one determine how many research studies need to be included in a meta-analysis? What might be an appropriate minimum number, for example, or should that be the guiding element? If not the number of research studies, what should be the guiding element?

c. What questions do you have about meta-analysis?

6. Your initial post:

a. Should be between 400 to 500 words.

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.

c. Provide clarification to classmates’ questions and provide insight into the discussion.

d. Be posted on three different days during the workshop.

5.1 Discussion. The Body of Christ

Getting Started

Consider this passage of scripture from 1 Corinthians 12:

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

What does this mean for those who “drink of one Spirit”? Do we act as one body, alive and working, living, doing the will of our Living Lord? Or are we, the body, like dry bones—separated from one another with little to no flesh, no breath, and thus no real life?

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

· Discuss your perspective of the Body of Christ.

· Identify your spiritual gifts and note how you use them.

Resources

· Bible

Background Information

Paul continues to write to the church at Corinth:

…so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.

But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

Perhaps this passage is speaking about even more than spiritual gifts—how we treat those who are different from ourselves. Have you ever found yourself with little patience for others who do not share the same perspective on life or who disagree with you? What do you say to others who do not share your same values? What do you do? How do you treat them?

Instructions

1. Read the Devotional on this page and reflect on the above passage from 1 Corinthians.

2. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion questions:

a. Share your perspective on what it means to be a part of one Body, the Body of Christ.

b. Identify and then share a time when you had to interact with someone very different from yourself.

3. 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.

c. Provide clarification to classmates’ questions and provide insight into the discussion.