9/17/12Research Methods in PsychologyMeasurementEmpirical support- Research questiono How does the brain work? Not specific enough We have a research question when we narrow it down to a question about specific variables and the relationship(s) among them- Test ideas/theories against the facts that we observeo DataVariables- Something that varieso Categorical Gendero Quantitative Height- Variation can be observed (measured) and/or manipulatedFundamentals of measurement- You need to know what concept your variable is so that you can figure out which scale to use and how to measure it- Conceptual variable (theory based)o Self-control: Capacity to overcome one’s desires, thoughts, and habitual patterns of behavior in order to conform to the demands of social life Measured variable- Likert Scale- 5 factorso General capacity for self-disciplineo Inclination for deliberate/no impulsive actiono Work ethico Healthy habitso Reliability Converging operations… multiple approaches- Self-control questionnaireo Capacity to control health-related behaviors- Self-control scheduleo Capacity to use strategies such as self-distraction and cognitive reframing to solve particular behavioral problemsHow do we measure?o Self-reporto Ask people to report about their thoughts, emotions, behavior, attitudes, etc.o Inner states that are by definition subjective, known only to the individualo 1. Free format Projective measures- Rorschach inkblots Associative lists- Elderly, then write everything that comes to mindo 2. Fixed format Well-developed set of response formats (items) ready to use- Scales- different items designed to measure the same conceptual variable- Likert Scaleo State how much you agree or disagree with something (1-5 or 1-10)o Limitations in self-report measures Rely on introspection Reactivity- Social desirability- Self-promotion- Pleasing the experimentero Behavioral measureso Self-control Choice of a Twix bar vs. an appleo Physiological measureso Body’s physiological and endocrine responses EEG- Sleeping and dreamingo Measure brain-waves and eyelids movements fMRI- subjects’ reports of dreams correlate with the activation of brain areas involved in processing visual information Cardiovascular response (CV)- Motivationo heart rate, blood pressure, and heart contraction forceo women have higher heart contraction (systolic response) when theyface a behavioral challenge in public but not in privateo Combining multiple measureso Self-control Delay of gratification Neural systems supporting the ability to control cigarette
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