PSYCH 111 1st Edition Lecture 3Introduction to PsychologyRESEARCH METHODSPsi ChiThe International Honor Society in PsychologyResearch Methods• Nature of Science• Methods of Psychological Science- Types of Studies- Components of StudiesWhat is science?Way of pursuing knowledge• systematic• empiricalHow does science differ from intuition and common sense?Scienceempirical verificationCommon Sensecommonly believed assumptionsIntuitionsPeople commonly repress traumatic memories (T or F)Happiness is mostly determined by life circumstances (T or F)Pigeons can be taught to distinguish paintings by Monet and Picasso and music by Bachand Stravinsky (T or F)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.People who hold a pencil in their teeth view cartoons funnier than people who hold a pencilin their lips (T or F)FactsTrue: Pigeons can be taught to distinguish paintings by Monet and Picasso and music byBach and StravinskyTrue: People who hold a pencil in their teeth view cartoons funnier than people who hold apencil in their lipsFictionFalse: People commonly repress traumatic memoriesFalse: Happiness is mostly determined by life circumstancesCommon Sensea. Two heads are better than oneb. Opposites attractc. Never put off for tomorrow what you can do todayvs.a. Too many cooks spoil the brothb. Birds of a feather flock togetherc. Cross that bridge when you come to itResearch Methods• Nature of Science• Methods of Psychological Science- Types of Studies- Components of StudiesWhat are goals of science?• Describe• Predict• Explain ->ControlWhat are descriptive studies?• Observe and record behavior without manipulating• Used to describe behavior, but not predict or infer causalityExample of Descriptive StudyQuestion:Do students read syllabus?What are correlational studies?Record multiple variables without manipulating; then correlate measuresUsed to predict behavior, but not infer causalityExample of Correlational StudyQuestion:Does reading syllabus predict grades?What are experimental studies?• Observe, record, and compare behavior in control and experimental groups (or conditions)• Used to draw conclusions about causalityExample of Experimental StudyQuestion:Does reading syllabus cause increases in grades?What are experimental variables?• Independent Variables (IV)factors varied• Dependent Variables (DV)factors measuredResearch Methods• Nature of Science• Methods of Psychological Science- Types of Studies- Components of StudiesWhat are components of studies?• Subjects• Measures• Protocols• AnalysesHow are subjects selected?• Population - group of interest• Sample - portion of population included in studyWhat is goal of sampling?Generalizabilitysample results extend to populationWhat is sample bias?Some members of populations less likely to be included than othersHow is sample bias avoided?• Random Sampleschance selection• Representative Samplesmatched selectionHow are measures selected?Operationalizationspecifies how measures are quantifiedExamples of Operationalized Measures• Aggression =# Punches on Playground• Anxiety =Galvanic Skin Response• Memory =# Words RecalledWhich is an example of an operational definition?A. Stress = emotional reaction to one’s environmentB. Empathy = understanding of others’ feelingsC. Intelligence = score on intelligence testD. All of the aboveWhat are goals of protocols?• Consistent and repeatable• Control irrelevant variables (confounds)What is expectancy bias?Participant or researcher expectancies affect outcomeHow is expectancy bias avoided?• Participant Expectancyparticipant blind to condition (placebo)• Researcher Expectancyresearcher blind to condition• Double Blindparticipant and researcher blind to conditionHow are data analyzed?• Descriptioncentral tendencyvariability• Predictioncorrelation• Causalityinferencemeta analysisHow is central tendency analyzed?• Mean:arithmetic averageMode:most frequently scoreMedian:middle scoreHow is variation analyzed?• Rangedifference between highest and lowest scores• Standard Deviation (SD)spread around meanExamples of Measures of VariationHow is relationship analyzed?Correlation Coefficient (r)What is range of correlations?Correlation Not CausalityIf X & Y correlated− X predicts Y− Y predicts X− X may cause Y− Y may cause X− Z may cause X & YCorrelation Not CausalityWhat is goal of inference?Extend study findings to populationHow is inference analyzed?Significance Levelare findings different from chance- p< .05- p< .01What are meta analyses?• Combines multiple studies• Increases sample size• Improves inferenceTake Home Messages(Research Methods)• Specific types of studies (descriptive, correlational, and experimental) are used to addressdifferent goals of psychology (description, prediction, and explanation)• Various techniques are used to prevent bias in each component of studies (samples,measures, protocols, and