Unit 2 (D):Unit 2 (D):Problems and Problems and Solutions in Solutions in

ResearchResearchMr. McCormickMr. McCormickA.P. PsychologyA.P. Psychology

Do-NowDo-Now(On Sheet)(On Sheet)

Complete Complete “Variables in “Variables in Experimental Research” Experimental Research” worksheet worksheet individuallyindividually

SubmitSubmit when finished when finished

Problems in Problems in Experimental ResearchExperimental Research

What types of What types of problemsproblems do do you think you think psychological psychological

researchers researchers may may encounterencounter when when

conducting conducting experimental experimental researchresearch??

Problems in Problems in Experimental ResearchExperimental Research

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy:Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Researcher’s expectations influence Researcher’s expectations influence

his/her own behavior, and thereby his/her own behavior, and thereby influence the participant’s behavior influence the participant’s behavior (e.g. thinking a subject will respond in a (e.g. thinking a subject will respond in a certain way, and unassumingly acting in certain way, and unassumingly acting in a manner that will cause the subject to a manner that will cause the subject to then do so)then do so)

Problems inProblems inExperimental ResearchExperimental Research

Have Have youyou ever ever experienced a experienced a

““self-fulfilling self-fulfilling prophecy?”prophecy?”

Problems inProblems inExperimental ResearchExperimental Research

Placebo Effect:Placebo Effect: A change in a A change in a

participant’s behavior participant’s behavior that results from a that results from a beliefbelief that the treatment will that the treatment will have an effect, rather have an effect, rather than the actual treatment than the actual treatment (e.g. participant thinks (e.g. participant thinks he/she is receiving “Red he/she is receiving “Red Bull,” but instead Bull,” but instead receives non-caffeinated receives non-caffeinated soda, and still “feels soda, and still “feels energized”)energized”)

Solutions inSolutions inExperimental ResearchExperimental Research

How can How can psychological psychological researchers researchers avoidavoid self-self-

fulfilling prophecies fulfilling prophecies and and placebo effects placebo effects when when

conducting conducting experimental experimental researchresearch??

Solutions inSolutions inExperimental ResearchExperimental Research

Single-Blind Procedure:Single-Blind Procedure: Participants are unaware of which Participants are unaware of which

participants received the treatment (e.g. participants received the treatment (e.g. participants do not know which participants participants do not know which participants received “Red Bull”)received “Red Bull”)

Double-Blind Procedure:Double-Blind Procedure: Participants and experimenter(s) are Participants and experimenter(s) are

unaware of which participants received the unaware of which participants received the treatment (e.g. participants and treatment (e.g. participants and experimenter(s) do not know which experimenter(s) do not know which participants received “Red Bull”)participants received “Red Bull”)

Solutions inSolutions inExperimental ResearchExperimental Research

How do How do single-blindsingle-blind and and

double-blind proceduresdouble-blind procedures

help help avoidavoid self-fulfilling self-fulfilling prophecies prophecies on behalf of on behalf of

the the experimenter experimenter

and and participantsparticipants??

Comparing Research Comparing Research MethodsMethods

ReviewReview What is a What is a self-fulfilling prophecy self-fulfilling prophecy in in

psychological research?psychological research?

What is a What is a placebo effectplacebo effect??

Identify Identify twotwo ways in which researchers ways in which researchers cancan avoid avoid a a self-fulfilling prophecyself-fulfilling prophecy on on behalf of the behalf of the researcher(s)researcher(s) and and participant(s)participant(s)??

““Creating an Creating an Experiment”Experiment”

Directions:Directions: Create a Create a hypotheticalhypothetical psychological psychological

experiment experiment that seeks to answer a question(s) that seeks to answer a question(s) that you may have.that you may have.

Respond to Respond to Questions 1-10 Questions 1-10 pertaining to your pertaining to your hypothetical research experimenthypothetical research experiment

Format:Format: TypedTyped Arial/Times New RomanArial/Times New Roman 12-Point Font12-Point Font 1.5 Line Spacing1.5 Line Spacing

HomeworkHomework

Unit 2 Quiz: Unit 2 Quiz: “Research Methods”“Research Methods”

““Creating an Experiment”Creating an Experiment”