Class Lecture Scientific Methods in Psychology Olker Tori 8 23 12 STUDY TIPS Great notes make great study material Have learning goals Psychology Learn across all levels of understanding Check learning progress Break up studying in small sessions Behavior and mental processes PSYCHOLOGY SUBDISCIPLINES EXPERIMENTAL Biological Dr Siftka brain Cognitive thinking processes Social Behavior and mental processes in a social situation Bystander apathy lack of helping someone when you re in a large group Developmental Study over the life span of someone as they develop and age APPLIED Clinical disturbed Counseling family School Psychometrics measurement So which sub discipline has the real understanding of human Industrial business behavior All HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY A TIMELINE 1879 Structuralism W Wundt introspection German Looking at something and taking it apart Example notebook white has holes has lines ect 1890s Functionalism W James American studied at Harvard Function of sleep emotion ect Basically the function of the mind 1920s Behaviorism B F Skinner J Watson Science is based on measurement This was a huge transition because we stopped studying mental things and studied measurable things Psychoanalysis S Freud Theory of human behavior and emotion triggered by early years 1960 1970s Cognitive Revolution Modern Clinical Introduced methods of cognitive processes that occur in humans Does this stuff really work Modern Clinical s beginning question Modern Clinical is evidence based more recent WHAT MAKES A DISCIPLINE A SCIENCE OR SOMETHING ELSE Theory Astrology and horoscopes 1948 B R Forer rate the personality analysis 0 5 on accuracy Comprehensive explanations of phenomenon The issue is B R Forer did a personality test on individuals due to the fact that many astrology s are the same Nothing can really fit you but rather everybody Average rating 4 26 The BARNUM EFFECT AND OTHER PROBLEMS OF ASTROLOGY Barnum Effect believability of personality analysis horoscopes and The zodiac constellations no longer coincide with the signs they were astrology 2000 years ago The zodiac signs don t split into 12 anymore but rather 13 ON DOING GOOD SCIENCE Let s begin with theories Good theories must Fit known facts Predict discoveries Be falsifiable worded so that you could test it and prove it wrong Be most parsimonious over others simplicity 8 28 12 A THEORY OF SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER Seasonal changes and light exposure alters peoples emotions the example of a theory absence of sunlight Fit known facts Cases of winter depression are unique They sleep eat more Predicts new discoveries Most cases appear in far latitudes far from equator Is falsifiable Light therapy is beneficial Is parsimonious Sunlight is known to alter brain chemistry that regulates mood THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY THE SCENTIFIC METHOD ID the problem you want to study Set up a cause and effect relationship among variables Design and carry out a TRUE experiment Manipulate one variable and measure another Establish causal connection Anxiety while being at the dentist Manipulate smell lavender vanilla orange We could measure heart rate do an anxiety survey Come up with an analysis to show people See if there is a correlation Determine the truth of the findings Statistical date analyses Disseminate results Publish in journals present at conferences WARNING SIGNS OF PSEUDOSCIENCE Pseudoscience bad science 1 Use of impressive scientific jargon psycho babble and exaggerated claims a Lie detectors are only 70 dependable 2 Use ad hocs loop holes to explain negative findings a Oops sorry we didn t use enough people 3 Over reliance on anecdotes as evidence of claims a I have a friend who got better with this 4 Fails to connect to existing science a They feel it s important to be individual 5 Absence of self correction 6 Avoids objective peer review SCIENCE AND THE EXPERIEMTNAL METHOD Science and the experimental method It s a systematic manipulation of one variable and measuring the outcome on another Independent vs Dependent Variables the one you manipulate Independent Dependent Why not paint a football visitor s locker room pink Golberger s Study the one you measure Argues that those suffering Pulegra don t have a good diet Side note Pulegra wiped out 100 000 people yearly in the south Golberger falsified the theory that Pulegra was from a microscopic organism due to poor plumbing Common concerns 1704 Operational definition precise and objective Martha Stewart Random sampling and random assignments to groups o Experimental vs control Demand charactersitics o Blind vs double blind OTHER METHODS OF STUDY IN PSYCHOLOGY Mr H M His issue was similar to the girl form 50 first dates Ms A D German women went to Frankford Hospital to be treated for thorough descriptions of a single person with a rare Careful documentation of behavior in its Case histories memory loss She was treated by Dr Alzheimer condition Naturalistic observation natural setting Jane Doodall variables Survey studies Correlational studies Many use twins questionnaires of beliefs attitudes behavior ect examine relationship between two or more Correlation coefficient r quantifying relationships between variables Stats that measure strength and direction of that relationship Range 1 0 through zero up to 1 0 o 1 0 Positive relationship more golf practice lower scores partying every weekday means lower grades o Zero No relation o 1 0 Negative relationship studying vs grades bowling Plot line of best fit to get a good idea if the relationship is strong weak or nonexistent INTERPRETING CORRELATIONAL DATA Do not confuse correlation with causation Taiwan study o The number of electrical appliances in the house directly correlated with the use of contraceptives o In short giving teens electrical appliances stopped them from using contraceptives ETHICS OF RESEARCH Two oversight committees Human Subject IRB and Animal Subject IACUC Research o YOUR rights Informed consent confidentiality right to withdraw and debriefing WHAT IS BIOPSYCHOLOGY Biopsychology the scientific study of the brain and mental processes and their relation Cells of the nervous system Neurons function to receive store and transmit information They make up about half of the stuff of your brain in terms of volume 10 neurons to every 1 glia cell Glia or glial cells perform many tasks Signaling system They help clear up damage after a brain trauma They help neurons before their task They make up the other half of volume