PSYC 101 1st Edition Lecture 2 Chapter 1 Module 3 Research Methods Psychologists use the scientific method because they can systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest Difference between facts and opinions Facts can be proven Opinions are based on personal experiences Steps in the scientific method 1 2 3 4 Identifying questions of interest Formulating hypothesis with an explanation Carrying out research designed to support or refute the hypothesis or explanation Communicate findings with others A theory is a broad explanation or prediction concerning a phenomena The theory of diffusion of responsibility If the number of witnesses increases the amount of people likely to help decreases A hypothesis is a prediction that can be tested An operational definition is the translation of a hypothesis into specific testable procedures that can be measured and observed Descriptive Research Designs A Archival Research existing data such as census documents college records newspapers etc examined to test a hypothesis B Case Study In depth intensive investigation of a single person of small group psychological testing 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 however unique individuals make it impossible to generalize I Naturalistic Observation observing people etc in an environment II Survey Research When people are asked a series of questions about their behaviors thoughts and attitudes pitfalls results will be wrong if the sample is not representative of the population survey respondents may not answer honestly A Correlational Research 1 Variables two sets of data are examined to determine whether or not they are associated or correlated 2 Correlation coefficient positive or negative CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION Experimental Research Investigating 2 or more variables and manipulating one of them A Experimental Manipulation change that a distributor produces on purpose in a certain situation B Treatment manipulated by the experimenter C Experimental Group receives a treatment D Control Group receives no treatment E Independent Variable is manipulated by an experimenter F Dependent Variable is measured expected to change when the independent variable does G Random Selection each member of a population has a equal chance to participate in a study H Random Assignment participants are assigned to different conditions by chance I Significant Outcome meaningful results that confirm a hypothesis Replication when a study is conducted again