Download Research Methods: Notes on Chapters 1-5 - Prof. Brian J. Hock and more Study notes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! Research Methods Chapters 1-5 Notes Research is always probabilistic and causative Our paper should never have “prove” in it Always error involved Try to find ways to measure reliable & accurate info 2 ways research begins o Theory driven – have theory so collect data to support or not support data. Ex. Milgram’s shock experiment o Data driven – explain data Scientific Method o Goal: guide to design an experiment & how to communicate data 1. Theory 2. Hypothesis a. Logical b. Testable c. Refutable 3. Identify subjects (animals)/ Participants (people) a. How many → power ( min 30 per part. per group/ min 15 subj. per group) b. Subject characteristics → operational definition ( race, age, gender, education, status) c. Define population → sample d. Sampling method Random sample Convenience sample 4. Methology/ Research Strategy a. Interval vs. external validity b. Quasi-/independent/dependent variable (how does IV cause DV?) c. Experimental Highest internal/ lowest external d. Quasi-experimental e. Non experimental (past test only design) Lacks control/comparison group Lacks base line data f. Correlational Cannot prove causation Trying to find relationship between 2 variables Doesn’t have IV/DV g. Descriptive 5. Research Design a. Between subjects (cross-sectional) Between 2 or more separate groups of subjects b. Within subjects 1 group testing twice or more c. Factorial 2 or more IV 6. Stats a. Descriptive Central tendencies Mean, median, mode Variability error (S.D.) b. Inferential Compare different performance of 2 groups T-test, ANOVA, correlation 7. Interpretations/ Conclusions Observation Methods o Naturalistic – observing individuals & behaviors in natural environments, it is important to remain unobtrusive b/c participants/subjects will behave differently a. Hawthorne Effect- people act differently when they know they are being watched o Survey/Correlational – no actual observing of behavior or manipulations being done, you may also be working w/ a data base & have no actual participants o Structured(contrived) – typical lab environment, sterile environment w/ manipulations being done, participants know they are involved in a study/experiment, researcher sets up everything in the environment o Field Experiment – everything is done in a natural setting, you may manipulate the IV or something in the environment, it usually involves an actor or confederate but not always, participant often doesn’t know the he/she is involved in an experiment o Participant – typically in a natural setting, the researcher acts as a participant & does everything other participants do, can be disguised or not disguised a. Rosenhand Experiment – grand students were admitted to mental institution to study conditions; they could later not be released b/c doctors thought they showed signs of schizophrenia Scales of Measurement to Record Behavior o Qualitative data – narrative account of behavior, no numbers involved, it is often used in a new area of study where no other research is done, one problem is how truthful the participants are o Quantitative data – numbers, objectively quantitated
