Research Methods

Natural Observation Cardinal Rule: Do

not disturb people or animals you are studying! Conceal yourself and be unobtrusive

Studies organisms in natural environment

Does not employ controls

Natural Observation Cont. Psychologists avoid

using this method b/c it doesn’t provide the how's and whys of behavior. You only know what you can see.

Ex. Jane Goodall’s research with Chimps

Case Studies Used by psychologists

and psychiatrists Tries to get at

background causes of behavior

Includes info about family relationships, school, performance and occupational adjustment

Case Studies Continued… Based on

philosophy that the more we know about a person the better equipped the therapists is to understand and help them.

Interview Method Value of data (info) depends on

interviewer (must be skilled in not presenting biased information

Must observe body language as well as verbal responses

Questionnaires (surveys) Involves sending

selected questions to a group of people called “sample”

Questionnaires Continued… A sample is a small

group of people out of the total population which the researcher hopes represents society

“random sample” is picked arbitrarily

Psychological Testing Standardized and

intended for specific purpose

Results help establish norms in behavior

They are not absolutes for predicting future success

They are a means to an end; not an end in themselves

examples I.Q. Test WAIS – Weschler

Adult Intelligence Scale

Key Math Achievement Test

Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests

Types of Studies Longitudinal Study Cross-sectional

Study

Directed Observation A refinement of natural

observation but is more specific

Looks at only one specific behavior – may have to use controls occasionally

Ex. Certain medical research such as electrode implantation in the brain

Experimental Method Most specific/sophisticated of all

research methods

Types of Experiments Natural Experiment:

studies something that is occurring naturally in the environment… manipulation occurs w/o human intervention. Example: natural disasters

Field Experiments

Field Experiments: the experiment manipulates/ changes conditions in a real life setting.

Types of experiments cont… Laboratory

experiments: (most sophisticated) essential…highest degree of control/precision. Environment is completely controlled by researcher.

Problems? Avoidance? Self-fulfilling

prophecy: The scientist or researcher finds what he/she wished to find and overlooks the evidence. It’s human nature to find only the evidence which supports your hypothesis.

Double Blind procedure Double-Blind Procedure:

The researcher and the subjects are blind to the experiment. Neither knows who is actually involved until research is completed

Example: Test brand name cola vs. off brand

Experiment Method Explanation In order to qualify as an experiment

it must have these components –

Hypothesis: Educated guess

Example: How much sleep effects a test performance?

Variables

Independent Variable: produces the effect. It is something which is manipulated or controlled in a predetermined way…example: amount of sleep

Dependent Variable: The change that occurs as a result of the independent variable. It is usually the subjects response to the changed condition. Example: Performance on test

Groups

Control group: everything remains the same/measures normal response. (all subjects go normal amount of sleep)

Experimental group: a variable/condition is changed and the response is measured (were not allowed to sleep