Lecture #2 Research Methods

Music: “Forever” Chris Brown

“Dangerous” Akon

Today’s Agenda

• 1. Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology (p.11)– Application to the phenomenon of depression

• 2. Research Methods (Ch. 2):– a) Descriptive/correlational– b) Experimental

• 3. Improving Academic Performance (Ch. 1)– a) Time management– b) Study skills

• 4. Quiz Questions

1. Theoretical Perspectives (6)

• 1) Biological: – How physiology affects thoughts and behavior

• 2) Cognitive:– How your mind (thoughts) influence behavior

• 3) Psychodynamic:– How the unconscious influences behavior

• 4) Behavioral:– How the environment shapes behavior

• 5) Humanistic:– Freedom of choice and actualization of the self as determinants of

behavior

1. Theoretical Perspectives (cont’d)

• 6) Evolutionary:– How the behavior initially solved an adaptive

problem and increased chance of reproductive success

1. Application to Depression• 1) Biological Vulnerability:

– Genetic vulnerability– Neurochemical imbalance in the brain

• 2) Cognitive Vulnerability:– Self-blame (attribution bias)– Dysfunctional beliefs

• 3) Psychodynamic View:– Overly harsh superego– Unresolved grief over early loss– Anger turned inward

1. Theoretical Perspectives on Depression (cont’d)

• 4) Humanistic View: – Loss of meaning and purpose

– Failure to actualize yourself

• 5) Behavioral View:– Lowered social support

– Loss of rewards

• 6) Evolutionary View:– Disengagement is adaptive and promotes survival (e.g.

prevents pursuit of unrealistic goals)

2. Research Methods a) Descriptive Designs

• Case studies: • Good for rare phenomena, or when other methods can’t be used

• Surveys– Validity issues:

• Wording (e.g. public poll)• sampling biases (e.g. Hite report) • social desirability (e.g. beer consumption)

• Correlational (r)– Describes the strength of the relationship between 2 variables

(r= -1.0 to +1.0)– Correlations enable prediction but say nothing about

causation

2. a) Correlational data

2.a) Correlations

• Third variable can account for a relationship

2. b) Experimental Studies• Most powerful method to detect cause and effect

relationships• Independent Variable (“X”):

– What is manipulated; the “cause” or explanation for something

• Dependent Variable (“Y”) – The outcome (the something) affected by the manipulation – How does “X” affect “Y”?

• Control Group:– No manipulation, otherwise treated the same.– Differences between control and experimental groups allow

conclusions about the effect of “X” on “Y.”

2. b) Experimental example

3. Improving Your Academic

Performance• a) Time Management Skills:

– Written schedule with study blocks– Prioritize your goals

• Break down difficult tasks into small steps• Do the hardest task during your “best time”

– Note: Distributed learning is more effective than massed learning– Reward Yourself!

• After, not before

• b) Study Skills– Study Area:

• “Stimulus-response” theory• Combat distractions!

3. b) Study Skills (cont’d)

• Reading:– SQ3R method:– Survey– Question– Read– Recite– Review

• Summary: For success in university:– 1) Attend your lectures– 2) Take good notes– 3) Keep up with weekly readings

• Time management & SQ3R

4. Quiz Questions: (breathe in…. and out….)

• Consider the following research methods: – A) experimental study– B) case study– C) naturalistic observation– D) survey– E) correlational study

• What would be the most appropriate research method for the following hypotheses: – 1) Smoking is associated with reduced life expectancy – 2) Tranquilizers are prescribed more in times of economic crisis– 3) The repression of anger leads to depression– 4) Children in orphanages have lower IQ

4. Quiz Questions (cont’d)

• 2) Which correlation coefficient would reflect the strongest relationship between 2 variables? – a) .20– b) .45– c) -.60– d) -.75– e) can’t tell based on the numerical value

See you next week!