Psych 350 1st Edition Lecture 4 Outline of Last Lecture I. Brief History ContinuedII. Related Disciplinesa. Sociologyb. Cognitive Psychologyc. Personality PsychologyIII. Social Psychology is Common Sensea. Hindsight Biasb. Construal Outline of Current Lecture I. Social Psychology Research Methods a. Developing Ideab. Steps and Research OutcomesII. Descriptive ResearchIII. Other Methods of ResearchCurrent LectureI. Social Psychology Research MethodsSocial psychology is often common sense; because we constantly interact with it predictions and explanations are often intuitive. But we need research methods becausethey allow us to evaluate these intuitive explanations objectively. Research methods usesystematic empiricism which means that a plan or approach is created to gain knowledge through observation and experimentation. a. Developing Ideas- This is the start of research in social psychology. Developing an idea comes from observation, which is the first step. - Start with a theory: a set a principles that explains and predicts outcome. This seems counterintuitive to start with an explanation, but it allows for the observation to be refined. These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Then form a hypothesis: a testable prediction. A hypothesis includes who the question or observation is about, the groups/variables to be compared, and is very specific. A hypothesis or prediction must be testable (a real variable can be measured) and refutable (there is a way the data could disprove the prediction, ifit is in fact wrong).- Operational Definition: a specific procedure for manipulating or measuring the testable variable. This is used in order to test the hypothesis, because not all variables are observable. This must be included in methods of experiment.b. Steps and Research Outcomes1. Theory: an appropriate theory is used to explain observations.2. Hypothesis/Prediction: narrow and specific, it must be grounded in the theoretical predication previously identified.3. Research: test hypothesis using operational definition. There are two possible outcomes of the research, either confirmation or disconfirmation, both of which are good outcomes because it gives concrete information through evidence.- Confirmation: the data supports the hypothesis (the predication was correct) andthus our confidence in the theory is increased.- Disconfirmation: the data does not support the hypothesis (the predication was incorrect) and thus our confidence in the theory is decreased. II. Descriptive ResearchDescriptive Research does not involve preforming an experiment where a variable is manipulated and the measured to find changes. This type of research is simply describing a phenomenon without explaining why or how it might occur. There are different types of descriptive research.a. observational studies: simply observing and recording behavior, not manipulating or suggesting why. Examples include observing a playground to observe instances of bullying.- Ethical considerations: is it ethical to observe people in public without consent? What about a study of “personal space” by observing how far apart men stand aturinals in public restrooms? It is considered that anything done in a public space, even a private act, is ethical to observe and use for research. This is because the space is public and thus anyone would be able to observe it anyway. This include places like malls, parks, parking lots (even if in your vehicle), and through an open window, where people can already see.b. archival studies: using public information to describe situations/trends/phenomenon.For example studying patterns of marriage through history with marriage certificates. c. Surveys: self-report data. Problems with accuracy because of lying.III. Other Methodsa. correlational design: research that measures the relationship between two or more non-manipulated variables, as they exist in nature. This design can not explain why the relationship exists, but that a relationship exists.- Third variable problem: a situation where a third variable, that was not measured, is affecting the measured