LESSONS LEARNED FROM RIDDLES It is often important to view a problem from more than 1 perspective We learn that determined questioning from a wrong perspective leads to little or no progress but once the correct perspective is found the solution to the riddle is easily determined Overlook the unexpected in scientific data Prior assumptions concerning data are dangerous questioning basic assumptions is often productive Yes no questions properly formed yield higher productivity Details that do not fit expected patterns are often of crucial importance Persistence is the key quality in problem solving By expecting complicated answers simple ones may be overlooked Crucial difference even though similarities Science makes no guarantees Scientists must pursue their goals with no assurance of success which requires a special kind of commitment HOW PSYCHOLOGISTS ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE THE RESEARCH PROCESS Have a question that needs answer Notice that there is an area missing in the research Finding a problem Reviewing the literature Why is it important to conduct a thorough review of the literature before conducting your research project Avoid duplication prevent undertaking problems that have already been solved Look at everything that has been done on the topic look at own behavior to know how feeling ex If smiling then must be happy THEORY HYPOTHESIS A set of ideas about a topic Examples Self Perception Theory A prediction The idea being tested RESEARCH PROJECT OUTLINE Predicted outcome of your research project that is based on the theory from the literature review The Research Plan Conducting the Research Project Analysis of Research Findings You need to come up with a methodology or way to test your predictions Go into lab or whatever setting is appropriate to collect data Use statistical analyses to confirm or reject your predictions Decision in Terms of Past Research Theory Does your data confirm what has been found in the past and if it doesn t what conclusions can you draw about your data Preparing the Research Report Sharing your Results APA guidelines this tells you what goes into paper and how to organize format report Presentation Publication Chapter 2 Developing a Good Research Idea Conducting Ethical Project The Research Idea The Research Idea unanswered question in an area of interest Characteristics of Good Research Idea Example Angels cognitive processes in animals the future View of nature needs to be as close to reality as possible Example Bitter substances with animals groups teams at work Lab VS Workplace group dynamics Testable Likelihood of Success Sources of Research Ideas Nonsystematic sources Present in an unpredictable manner Blind flash of genius Example EINSTEIN Inspiration Serendipity Situations where we look for one phenomenon but find another Example PAVLOV Everyday Occurrences Our daily encounters provide us the possibilities for research Example CIALDINI basking in reflective glory Systematic Sources Carefully organized logically thought out Contradictory reports in the literature Find certain questions haven t been answered Past Research When you look at it you fail to replicate the previous findings Theory Classroom lectures Once you understand the theory there are many different projects that you can put together A study discussed in class can often spark an idea for a project Example Has anyone ever tried to do it this way What would happen if I do it this way Surveying the Psychological Research Selection of Index Terms American Psychology Association s Thesaurus of Psychological Terms 2007 Computerized search of Literature lib fsu edu Hint References for article could be used as own references Obtaining Relevant Publication Integrating the results of the literature search List the complete citation In APA format for the article you are abstracting Reference Information Introduction Why did the researchers conduct the experiment What theory does research seek to support Method list specifics like species number age sex equipment used to collect data describe conditions tested under PARTICIPANTS APPARATUS PROCEDURE Results What statistics did the author use What were the results Describe in statistical terms Discussion What conclusions were reached How do these conclusions relate to theory past research Describe criticisms of the research that occurred to you as you read the article pg 27 in textbook example of process The Need for Ethical Principles Psychologists must ask answer questions such as Are we putting our participants at risk Is our experimental treatment harmful Is the information we will gather from our experiment worth the potential risk and harm to the participants Nuremburg Code Stems from the Nazi war crimes of WWII Based on the results of the Nuremburg War Tribunal 1 Participants should consent to participate in research 2 Participants should be fully informed of the nature of the research 3 Risks should be avoided whenever possible 4 Participants should be protected against risks to greatest extent possible 5 Projects should be conducted by scientifically qualified personnel 6 Participants have right to discontinue at any time Zimbardo Study Stanford Prison Potential breach of confidentiality Psychological harm Feeling they weren t allowed to leave Informed Consent breach Pennebaker Study Confidentiality Psychological harm Middlemist Study Urinal Spying Invasion of Privacy Psychological harm Crocker Study Overweight women confidence study Not fully debriefed Psychological harm negative feedback The Need for Ethical Principles The Willowbrook Hepatitis Project 1956 Took place in autism center Doctors purposely infected newly admitted patients in order to study the development of the disease under controlled conditions and not given treatment Parents of these patients felt pressured into letting Willowbrook experiment on child Violation of consent The Tuskegee Syphilis Project 1932 1970 African American males Observed syphilis in untreated individuals Participants weren t told the real purpose of study Participants weren t given treatment even though they were told they were being treated Not fully informed Stanley Milgram s Obedience Studies 1960s Participants not fully informed feel they cannot leave threat of psychological harm Intentionally made to feel discomfort emotional stress Milgram after experiment debriefed participants had a 6 week follow up session APA Principles in the Conduct of Research with Humans The APA adopted
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