Introduction to Psychology

Class 4: The Scientific Method 1June 15, 2006

Do Opposites Really Attract?

“I’m a Democrat, he’s a Republican. He’s always early for everything, I’m usually running behind. I like drama and romance movies, he likes sci-fi and action. However, we can agree on comedy. He likes gourmet food; I’ll eat anything pretty much. I hate to cook, he’s is of course excellent at it. He is super smart and remembers everything he ever reads or hears, I am average and can barely remember the last book I read. This list can go on forever and ever. Our differences make things interesting and never boring. We do have something in common though; we agree to disagree and neither one of us will ever change.”

- Unknown blogger

““Opposites attract. That's what everyone says. It's a whole big deal. People who have entirely different personalities somehow magically come together. Without the aid of alcohol I might add. Personally I'm thinking, “No way!”. The biggest opposites in history. Hitler and Mother Theresa. You think Hitler would call Mother Theresa on the phone: “Hi Theresa. Here on my lonesome in my bunker. Thinking of you. What you wearing? No you hang up. No you hang up. No you hang up. You, you, you hang up”

– Jerry Seinfeld

Addressing the Question Talk to friends and get their points of view

Ask a bunch of random people the question

Talk in-depth to Seinfeld or anonymous woman

Observe people at a party

Look for someone who already has the answer!

Ask many couples to rate their personalities

“Set up” similar/different people

What defines “similar”/“different”?

What defines “attraction”?

S C

I E

N T

I F

I C

OPERATIONALIZE

The Scientific Method

Be skeptical/critical-minded

Be open-minded and intuitive

Do the background research, find theory/theories

Develop a hypothesis

Quantify variables, collect and analyze data

Describe/predict/explain behavior

Replicate result with different samples

Develop the theory

Research Designs

DESCRIBE Case Study Naturalistic Observation Survey

PREDICT Correlation

EXPLAIN Experimentation

Case Study

Qualitative research is a good start

Small sample size (N=1) Relies on observation and

intuition of researcher Positives Personal, not

reductionistic, generates hypotheses, ecological validity

Negatives No conclusion, difficult to test hypotheses and generalize findings

Naturalistic Observation

Observe subjects in their natural habitats

No attempt to influence or control behavior

Settings: streets, homes, schools, bars, zoos, rural areas

Positives Natural, no contamination, can be quantitative

Negatives Lack of control, experimenter bias

Types of Scales

Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio

Self-reports Wording has effects: 1) Double-barreled questions 2) Demand characteristics

3) Leading questions 4) Embarrassing items

Length and content have effects: 1) Inattentive responses 2) Random/fixed responses

There may be random sampling issues which lead to difficulties in generalization:

1) Non-representativeness 2) Self-selection

Respondents may not have access to information sought by researcher:

1) Explicit 2) Implicit

Create a questionnaire! Empirical question: Do opposites attract? Limit items per group to 10 Use this scale for non-demographic items

Pool and then select best or most relevant items Rephrase items if necessary to suit this scale Select a presenter for your group Present your 10 items to the class

Disagree very much

Disagree somewhat

Neutral Agree somewhat

Agree very much

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