Psychology 101
Chapt. 2
Dr. David L. Carpenter
Rev. 8/99
I.
The Major Research Methods
A.
Four basic steps
1.
Identify the research problem
2.
Design and conduct a study
3.
Examine the data
4.
Communicate the results
II.
The Experimental Method
A.
Definition of an experiment
B.
Variables
1.
What is a hypothesis?
2.
Independent variable
3.
Dependent variable
C.
Conditions
1.
Experimental condition
2.
Control condition
D.
Confounding variables
1.
Confounding variable
2.
Random assignment
E.
Examples
F.
Conclusions about experiments
III.
Quasi-Experiments
A.
Define Quasi-Experiment
B.
Random assignment
1.
What is it?
2.
Why might it not be
done?
C.
When are quasi-experiments used?
D.
Examples
IV.
The Correlational Method
A.
Correlational Research - what is it?
B.
Correlation Coefficient
1.
the symbol for one
2.
the range of possible values
C.
Kinds of Correlation
1.
Direction of the relationship
a)
Positive
b)
Zero
c)
Negative
2.
Strength of relationship
a)
How represented?
b)
Range of values
D.
Interpreting Correlations
1.
Causation and correlation
2.
Examples
V.
The Survey Method
A.
Survey Method defined
B.
Demographic information
C.
Problems with surveys
D.
Uses and limits of surveys
E.
Examples
VI.
In-Depth Interviews and Case Studies
A.
Advantages over experiments and quasi-experiments
B.
In-Depth Interviews
1.
What are they?
2.
Requirements for quality interviews
3.
examples
C.
Case Studies
1.
What are they?
2.
How are they different from in-depth interviews?
3.
examples
D.
Naturalistic Observations
1.
Naturalistic Observation Defined
2.
Three functions of naturalistic observation
3.
Examples
E.
Advantages and disadvantages of each method.
VII.
Research Issues
A.
Sampling
1.
Sample defined
2.
Random sample
3.
Representative sample
4.
Biased sample
5.
Generalizing beyond the sample
6.
Examples
B.
Measuring Responses
1.
Operational Definition
a)
Defined
b)
Two Advantages
c)
Examples
2.
Self-Report
a)
Defined
b)
Problems with Self-Reports
c)
Examples
3.
Behavioral Measures
a)
Defined
b)
Problems with
c)
Examples
4.
Physiological Measures
a)
Defined
b)
Advantages and disadvantages
c)
Examples
5.
Conclusions about measuring responses
C.
Avoiding Gender and Racial Biases
D.
Social Aspects of Research
1.
Experimenter expectations
2.
Participants' expectations
3.
Demand characteristics
E.
Ethical Aspects of Research
1.
Avoiding Potential Harm
2.
Avoiding unnecessary Deception
3.
Ensuring Privacy
4.
Ensuring Ethical Treatment of Animals
F.
In Depth: Research on Physical Attractiveness
1.
Experimental Method
2.
Naturalistic Observation and Correlational Research Combined
3.
In-Depth Interviews
4.
Conclusions
VIII.
Constructing and Evaluating Psychological Tests
A.
Standardization
B.
Norms
C.
Reliability
1.
Test-retest
D.
Validity
1.
Content
2.
Criterion
IX.
Analyzing the Data
A.
Descriptive Statistics: describing the Data
1.
Central Tendency
a)
Mean
b)
Median
c)
Mode
2.
Variability
a)
Histogram
b)
Range
c)
Standard Deviation
B.
Inferential Statistics: drawing Conclusions About the Data
1.
Drawing Conclusions About Two Groups
2.
Statistical significance
3.
Practical significance
4.
Meta-analysis
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