The Research Enterprise in Psychology

Welcome to Unit 8

Correlation

- How two variables are related.

- Correlation ≠ causation

Examples of correlations:

↑ ↑ Grades

What are some of the factors correlated with good grades?

• attendance

• study time

•good notes ↑ ↑ GRADES

• good teacher

• good health habits

↑ ↓ GRADES

What are some factors correlated with bad grades?

Examples of correlations continued:

• working hours

• party time

•

children ↑ ↓ GRADES

• stress

• number of beers drank

POSITIVE CORRELATION

↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ Remember: What goes up must ____ ____.

NEGATIVE CORRELATION

↑ ↓NO CORRELATION

Correlation ≠ CausationWhy not?

• There is a positive correlation between ice cream sales and murder rates.

↑ ↑ICE CREAM SALES MURDER RATES

Does an increase in ice cream sales cause an increase in murder rates?

NO!There is a third variable

which causes both of these.

This is called the “Third variable problem.”

Two Types of Research

Descriptive

Experimental

Descriptive Research

Goal is to describe.

Examples are:

case study

survey

observation

Case Study

What is a case study?

Why do a case study?

Experimental ResearchCause-and-effectmanipulates one variable under

controlled conditions so that resulting changes in another variable can be observed

2 groups: control group and experimental group

Participants are randomly assigned to one of the two groups.

Ethics in Psychological Research:

• Is it ethical to lie to research participants?• Is it ethical to harm research participants?• Is it ethical to pay research participants?• Must be voluntary – not coerced.• Must be free to leave.• Confidentiality.• Debriefed.

Ethics in research. Key ethical principles in psychological research, as set forth by the American Psychological Association (1992), are summarized here. These principles are meant to ensure the welfare of both human and animal subjects.

Topic 1 of 2Now that you have a better understanding of research methods, write one research question which could be answered by each of these methods and explain why it is answered by each method:

correlational research experimental research

and case study

Topic 1 of 2Now that you have a better understanding of research methods, write one research question which could be answered by each of these methods and explain why it is answered by each method:

correlational research What is the relationship between __________ and ________?experimental research

Does ________ cause _________?and case study

Look at one person for detailed information. For example: What are the daily life activities of someone

with Alzheimer's?

And always remember ….

• I am here to support you through this course. • I want you to enjoy this course and do well.• Let me know if you have any questions or problems.