Chapter 2: The Research Enterprise in Psychology

Basic assumption: events are governed by some lawful orderGoals:Measurement and descriptionUnderstanding and prediction Application and control

Looking for Laws:The Scientific Approach to Behavior

Formulate a testable hypothesisTheory or data-drivenOperational definition

Select the research method and design the studyCollect the data

Analyze the data and draw conclusions

Report the findingsSteps in a Scientific Investigation

Direct ObservationQuestionnaireInterviewPsychological TestPhysiological RecordingExamination of Archival RecordsData Collection Techniques

Experiment = manipulation of one variable under controlled conditions so that resulting changes in another variable can be observedDetection of cause-and-effect relationshipsIndependent variable (IV) = variable manipulatedDependent variable (DV) = variable affected by manipulation How does X affect Y? X = Independent Variable, and Y = Dependent VariableLooking for Causes: Experimental Research

Experimental groupControl group Random assignmentManipulate independent variable for one group only Resulting differences in the two groups must be due to the independent variableExtraneous and confounding variablesExperimental and Control Groups:The Logic of the Scientific Method

Strengths: conclusions about cause-and-effect can be drawnWeaknesses: artificial nature of experimentsethical and practical issuesStrengths and Weaknessesof Experimental Research

Direction of relationship Strength of relationshipCorrelation coefficientCorrelation and predictionCorrelation and causationThe Concept of Correlation

Figure 2.6 Positive and negative correlation

Methods used when a researcher cannot manipulate the variables under studyNaturalistic observationCase studiesSurveysAllow researchers to describe patterns of behavior and discover links or associations between variables but cannot imply causation

Descriptive Methods

Sampling bias Placebo effects Distortions in self-report data:Social desirability bias Response set Experimenter bias the double-blind solutionEvaluating Research:Methodological Pitfalls

The question of deceptionThe question of animal researchControversy among psychologists and the publicEthical standards for research: the American Psychological AssociationEnsures both human and animal subjects are treated with dignityEthics in Psychological Research:Do the Ends Justify the Means?

***********