A Brief Review of Chapter 1
Which of the following theoretical approaches in psychology emphasized studying only observable behavior?
a) Psychoanalytic
b) Humanistic
c) Behaviorism
d) Structuralism
A Brief Review of Chapter 1
Which of the following contemporary theoretical approaches in psychology is similar to functionalism?
a) Psychanalytic
b) Humanistic
c) Behaviorism
d) Cognitive
A Brief Review of Chapter 1
A ________ psychologist would most likely study factors that influence persuasion.
a) Personality
b) Social
c) Physiological
d) Clinical
A Brief Review of Chapter 1
You meet a psychologist who tells you that she works for IBM and helps them develop employee training and retention programs. What type of psychologist is she?
a) Socialb) Counselingc) Experimentald) Industrial-Organizational
A Brief Review of Chapter 1Contemporary psychologists would most likely agree with which of the following statements?
a) We cannot directly assess thinking and should only concentrate on studying observable behavior.
b) Heredity plays little to no role is influencing human behavior.
c) Culture is a major factor in shaping human behavior.
d) Laboratory research cannot reveal much about human behavior.
PSYC 2201Research in Psychology
Chapter 2 Outline for Weiten (2005)
Bill Hill
Kennesaw State University
1. Does a basketball player have a better chance of making a shot after having just made his last 2 or 3 shots than he does after having just missed his last 2 or 3 shots?
a) Yes
b) No
2. When shooting free throws, does a player have a better chance of making his second shot after making his first shot than after missing his first shot?
a) Yes
b) No
3. Is it important to pass the ball to someone who has just made several (2, 3, or 4) shots in a row?
a) Yes
b) No
Survey Data Found1. Does a basketball player have a better chance
of making a shot after having just made his last 2 or 3 shots than he does after having just missed his last 2 or 3 shots? Yes = 91%
2. When shooting free throws, does a player have a better chance of making his second shot after making his first shot than after missing his first shot? Yes = 68%
3. Is it important to pass the ball to someone who has just made several (2, 3, or 4) shots in a row? Yes = 84%
Research Data Found
The notion that “when you’re hot, you’re hot” is a myth.
– Tversky & Gilovich (1989) analyzed the shooting records of pro basketball teams and found that players were equally likely to make a shot after a miss as after a basket.
– They also verified this experimentally using varsity members of the Cornell team in a controlled shooting experiment.
Research, is NOT• Personal opinion• Anecdotal evidence
Goals of Scientific Approach
• Measurement/Description (REMEMBER EMPIRICAL)
• Understanding• Prediction• Application/Control
Hypothesis
Tentative statement about the relationship between 2 or more variables.
Variables
• Measurable• May be conditions, events,
characteristics, or behaviors• Can be controlled by the researcher
or observed in an research study
Types of Variables
• Participant/Subjecto Representative Sample
• Environment• Stimuli
Theory
Interrelated ideas or concepts that are used to explain a set of observations or research findings
Steps in Scientific Research
1. Develop testable hypothesis2. Select research method (which
depends on the question asked) to design the research study
3. Collect data4. Analyze data & draw conclusions5. Share results
Advantages of the Scientific Method
• Precision (Operational Definitions)
• Specificity/Clarity• Avoidance of error
Research Methods
“True” Experiment Manipulation of variables under
controlled conditions with random assignment of participants and observation/measurement of behavior
Research Methods
Quasi-Experimental Research Manipulation of an IV and measurement of a DV but without random assignment of participants to IV conditions
Research Methods
Experiment• IV, Independent Variable(s)• DV, Dependent Variable(s)• UCV, Extraneous/Uncontrolled
Variableso IrrelevantoConfounding
• CV, Control Variables
Research Methods
Experiment• Experimental Group• Control Group
Identify the Variables
1. A researcher is interested in evaluating 3 different treatments for curing phobias (unnatural fears of some object or situation). Participants receive one of 3 treatments for a period of 3 months. They are then tested for the intensity of their fear reaction to their particular phobic object or situation. The IV is:
a) The type of phobia they are suffering fromb) The type of treatment that they receivedc) The intensity of the fear reaction after the treatment d) The length of time the treatment was administered
Identify the Variables
2. A scientist believes that eating large amounts of fiber will prevent cancer of the stomach. To prove this, she has a large sample of volunteers eat a large bowl of fiber cereal every morning for 3 years, while a second group eats no fiber for breakfast for 3 years. The control group is:
a) The volunteers that ate the fiber cerealb) The volunteers that ate no fiber cerealc) There is no control group in this experiment d) The length of time the experiment was conducted
(i.e., 3 years)
Identify the Variables3. A psychologist believes that he has
developed a new teaching method that will produce greater learning. To prove this he selects 2 introductory psychology classes, one taught by Professor A and the other by Professor B. Professor A uses the new technique, while Professor B does not. The average test performance at the end of the semester is found to be greater for Professor A’s class. The UCV or Confounding variable:
a) The teaching techniqueb) The subject matter of the coursec) The test performance d) The professor who taught the course
Research Methods
Experimental Limitations• Artificiality• Cannot be used to research some
questions• Inability to manipulate some
variables• Experimenter Bias• Sampling Bias
Research Methods
Observational Research Watch and record defined behavior
Types of Observational Research• Naturalistic• Controlled/Lab
Research Methods
Surveys/Questionnaires/InterviewsSet of questions designed to
gather information about individuals
Survey Research Issues• Reliability & Validity• Social Desirability Bias
Which Method to Use?
1. Jogging increases lung capacity.a) Experiment
b) Survey
c) Naturalistic observation
d) Impossible to study scientifically
Which Method to Use?
2. More men than women report fantasies of making large sums of money.
a) Experiment
b) Survey
c) Naturalistic observation
d) Impossible to study scientifically
Which Method to Use?
3. Newborn infants have an innate conception of sin.
a) Experiment
b) Survey
c) Naturalistic observation
d) Impossible to study scientifically
Which Method to Use?
4. Unmarried cab drivers talk more with their customers than do married cab drivers.
a) Experiment
b) Survey
c) Naturalistic observation
d) Impossible to study scientifically
Research Methods
Case Study
Biographical study—either as it happens or through reconstruction
Tierney (1987) reported survey results that showed that people who often ate Frosted Flakes as a child had half the cancer rate of those who never ate the cereal. Also, those who ate oatmeal as a child were 4 times more likely to develop cancer than those who did not eat oatmeal. Do these results provide evidence that oatmeal causes cancer and Frosted Flakes prevents cancer?
a) Yesb) No
Research Methods
Correlational Research
Attempt to establish whether 2 or more variables are related to each other• Positive correlation• Negative correlation
Summarizing Your Results: Statistics
Descriptive Statistics• Measures of Central Tendency
Mean, Median, Mode
• Measures of VariabilityInferential Statistics
• Statistical Significance
Avoiding Research Flaws
Importance of ReplicationSampling BiasPlacebo EffectsProblems with Self-ReportsExperimenter Bias
1. Do you place your toilet paper so that it:
a) rolls over the spool
b) rolls under the spool
2. Do you squeeze the toothpaste from the:
a) top
b) middle
c) bottom
3. Do you eat corn on the cob:
a) in circles
b) side to side
4. Do you eat Oreo cookies:
a) by twisting the halves apart
b) by smashing them up and adding them to another desert
c) whole
5. Have you ever seen a ghost?
a) yes
b) no
6. Do you skip ahead in a book to find out what will happen?
a) yes
b) no
7. Have you ever flossed your teeth with a hair?
a) yes
b) no
The Survey Results
1. 68% over the spool2. 79% squeeze toothpaste from the top3. 80% eat corn on the cob in circles4. 50% eat Oreos whole, 18% twist apart,
15% smash them5. 10% have seen a ghost6. 27% skip ahead in a book7. 7% have flossed with a hair
Weiten’s Themes
Empirical Nature of Subjectivity of Experience
