Module 2: Research Strategies

Why is Psychological science important in our lives? Common Sense? Slovic and Fischhofff 1977 and Wood 1979. Common sense has a limit in what it can tell us Hindsight Bias (knew-it-all-along Phenomenon) The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. Overconfidence: We tend to think we know more than we actually do. (Vallone 1990) The Scientific Method A process of discovery that depends on critical thinking: question assumptions and evaluate methods: Components: Theory: Statement that attempts to explain observable phenomenon (hunch) Hypothesis: Specific predictions based on theory Operational Definitions: a statement of the procedures used to define research variables. Replication: Repeat a study with different participants or materials to see if the same results occur.

Critical Thinking Critical Thinking: Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions. Psychologists think with three different methods: Descriptive: Describes behavior Correlations: Associates different factors Experimental: Manipulates factors to discover their effects

Descriptive Method: (Observe and report behavior) Case study: A technique where one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles. Helpful in theory development Problem! Case study is not generalizable. Surveys: A technique measuring the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people. Wording can influence results. Population: All the cases in a group from which samples may be drawn for a study Random Sampling: A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion. Naturalistic Observation: Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation. The goal is not to explain behavior but to describe it! Correlation Method: A statistical measure of the extent to which two factors vary together. (naturally occurring relationships) Correlation: a measure of how two things co-vary. Correlation does not equal causation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Knowing ones show size can help predict height and knowing Experimentation (IV and DV): researches manipulate 1 or more factors (IVs) to observe the effects on some behaviors/mental process (DV). -Only the variables of interest are manipulated -Other possible explanations are controlled -Always looking at the effects of the IV on the DV Double-Blind Procedure- both participants and researcher are ignorant to whether the participant received the placebo or treatment. (Blind experiments: The researcher knows but the participant does not.) Independent Variable- Experimental factor that is manipulated, the variable whose effect is being studied Dependent Variable- Experimental factor (behavior/mental process) that is being measured, the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable

Random Assignment- Assigning participant to experimental and control conditions by chance Experimental Condition- The condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment (IV) Control Condition- serves as a comparison for evaluating treatment effects Placebo Effect- any effect on behavior caused by a placebo, which is an inert drug or fake treatment Proverb Activity

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Testable Hypothesis- Full night sleep makes a person healthier, allows you to perform to their full ability (good job/ study/eventually make an income), and allows an early start to the day to learn and experience new things and stay out of bad situations that occur late at night. (Performance and health should improve with more sleep) IV- Amount of time slept DV- Performance the next day ~How will you measure or operationally define these variables? -Performance can be measured by other peoples judgments (subjective) and by the quality and accomplishments of your actions. ~ What things should you try to control or what extraneous variables could influence your results? -Control time slept, settings of sleeping environment, your set up of daily tasks so you can evaluate when the day is over Control group- people who are deprived from sleep Experimental group- people who control their sleep