Psych 101 1nd Edition Lecture 3 Outline of Last Lecture I History Foundations Outline of Current Lecture II Research Methods Current Lecture Chapter 1 Module 3 Research Methods 1 What is the scientific method a The approach used by psychologists to systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest 2 2 What is the difference between fact opinion a Fact Scientific method b Opinion Personal experience 3 Identify the steps of the scientific method a Identifying questions of interest b Formulating hypothesis c Carry out research d Communicate findings 4 What is a theory a Broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest 5 What is a hypothesis a A prediction that can be tested 6 What is an operational definition a Translation of a hypothesis into specific testable procedures that can be measured and observed 7 Descriptive research designs a Archival research i Existing data such as census documents college records etc are examined to test a hypothesis b Case study In depth intensive investigation of a single individual or small group c Naturalistic Observation Ethnography i Investigator observes some naturally occurring behavior and does not make a change in the situation 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 d Survey research i People are asked a series of questions about their behavior thoughts or attitudes e Correlational research i Variables 1 Behaviors events or other characteristics that can change or vary in some way 2 Correlation coefficient a Positive i Indicates that as the value of one variable increases we can predict that the value of the other variable will also increase b Negative i Tells us that as value of one variable increases the value of the other decreases 3 Can correlation be used to show causation a NO i Directionality ii Third variable 8 Experimental research a Investigation of the relationship between two or more variables i Experimental Manipulation 1 Change that experimenter deliberately produces ii Treatment 1 Manipulation implemented by the experimenter iii Experimental and Control groups 1 Experimental Receives treatment 2 Control groups No treatment iv Independent variable 1 Manipulated by experimenter v Dependent variable 1 The variable being measured vi Random selection and random assignment 1 Random selection randomly chosen to participate in a study 2 Random assignment Randomly chosen for experimental or control groups vii Significant outcome and replication 1 Significant outcome meaningful results 2 Replication Ability to re do the entire study