Research Methods in Psychology STATS 241 Lecture 1 Lecture 2 1 21 Asking Research Questions Deductive Inductive and non theory driven research Terminology pg 34 course packet 1 Independent variable 3 Internal validity 2 Dependent variable IV variable that the research intentionally manipulates in order DV measure of behavior used by the researcher to assess the to observe its effects on the dependent variable effects if any of the independent variable e g effects of caffeine on fine motor skills the degree to which differences in the performance DV can be attributed unambiguously to an effect of the independent variable we do not want threats to internal validity generalized to different populations settings and conditions Teacher example Teacher took two separate classes one with cook book method one with theory Two groups divided by major education used the cook book engineering used theory Teacher finds that the theory method worked better with the students who were engineers and used theory But because of the different types of students she cannot say which one is better in actuality lack internal validity is a threat to validity the extent to which the results of a particular research study can be 4 External validity Reduced external validity The Mozart Effect researcher found that those who listened to Mozart before performing a task made them complete the task more quickly Generalized outcomes with the rest of society saying if babies listened to Mozart they would improve their intelligence Conclusions were drawn from college students so the issue is in drawing conclusions about babies generalizing results invalid from a general statement or theory to specific predictions observations Using statements about a general population to come to conclusions about a specific society to go from specific observations to more general theory or statement to assert or establish on the basis of observation of particular specific facts deduce to derive a conclusion from something known or assumed going 6 Induction 5 Deduction 7 Theory 8 Hypothesis hypotheses an explanation usually in general terms having a bunch of specific observations and using those to gather a more general theory expect to happen in your study A theory explains events in general terms while a hypothesis makes a specific a specific testable statement often a prediction about what you statement about a specified set of circumstances e g Theory caffeine will negatively affect a person s ability to perform fine motor skills e g Hypothesis people will produce more errors on a mirror drawing task as the number of cups of coffee they drink increases Theory Driven Research Deductive and Inductive Research programs Pg 35 in course packet Theories serve two purposes in research 1 They guide scientific research by suggesting research hypotheses Deductive Research 2 They organize empirical knowledge Inductive Research These two purposes lead to two different types of research deductive and inductive both driven by theories In Deductive research the researcher uses already established theories to deduce a specific and testable hypothesis of the form I expect this will happen if Deductive hypothesis In Inductive research the researcher gathers many specific findings usually though performing multiple studies and then uses these specific findings to create a more general explanation a theory The hypothesis is of the form I wonder what will happen if Inductive hypothesis Uses these different studies to build a theory Keeps taking those pieces of research and continues to test them and builds a theory The Cyclical Nature of Theory Driven Research pg 36 of course packet Begin with questioning and end with findings that further extend more questions Theory or General Problem of Interest question Generate specific testable hypothesis Design study and evaluate ethics Conduct study so as to achieve unambiguous results evaluate internal and external validity Collect and summarize data Descriptive statistics Draw conclusions from these analyses Inferential statistics Reject modify support original hypothesis Back to Theory or general problem of interest cyclical nature of research 1 Question 2 Hypothesis 3 Design study 4 Conduct study 5 Collect summarize data 6 Draw conclusions inferential 7 Analyze original hypothesis reject modify support based on the process and analysis Process Steps Step 1 finding interest in a topic Intro Psych text Talk to others doing research in area of interest Take a course attend seminars or lectures Do a literature search and read explore what is known about the topic Graham Wallas 1858 1932 philosopher 1926 The Art of Thought Four stages of the scientific process 1 Preparation almost obsessive search for research looking for information 2 Incubation almost meditation no longer thinking about it directly in the back of their mind constantly there some take naps when idea suddenly came to them driving or sailing something that made their creativity flow Illumination epiphany see everything in a new way 3 4 Verification take this idea and test to see if true Stages 1 3 would all be part of the Step 1 in the process of theory driven research Step 2 Developing a Testable Hypothesis review Hypotheses can be of two sorts Deductive and Inductive Deductive Hypotheses are the way in which theories guide research Form I expect this will happen if while Inductive Hypotheses are the way in which theories organize empirical knowledge Form I wonder what will happen if both valuable just serve different purposes A hypothesis cannot contain vague concepts such as mentally disturbed or intelligence need operational definitions A hypothesis cannot be circular A hypothesis is untestable if it appeals to ideas or forces that are not recognized by science unobservable forces e g The 6 year old is distractible and cannot pay attention because he has ADHD He has ADHD because he is distractible CIRCULAR PATTERN Step 3 Selecting a design and evaluating ethics Different designs map onto the different goals of a piece of research description prediction etc Pick a design that fits your goal Identify a target population and a sampling technique Perform a formal evaluation for ethical issues via review boards IRB or IACUC Must be done before ANY data are gathered even pilot data Step 4 Implement study in a way that achieves unambiguous results Avoid threats to internal validity Control some variables and yet strive for high external