11414Steps to Doing ResearchSteps to Doing Research1.1.Review the theory and research Review the theory and research related to an area of interest.related to an area of interest.2.2.Formulate a hypothesis.Formulate a hypothesis.3.3.Design a study to test the hypothesis Design a study to test the hypothesis and make a prediction about the and make a prediction about the outcome of the study.outcome of the study.1515Steps to Doing ResearchSteps to Doing Research4.4.Conduct the study and collect the Conduct the study and collect the necessary data.necessary data.5.5.Evaluate the data in terms of the Evaluate the data in terms of the prediction and the hypothesis.prediction and the hypothesis.6.6.Adjust the theory as needed based on Adjust the theory as needed based on the new data and report your findings.the new data and report your findings.1616Initial Stages of ResearchInitial Stages of ResearchAlmost all research begins with Almost all research begins with some form of a question.some form of a question.••I wonder if writing summary notes of I wonder if writing summary notes of reading assignments facilitates the reading assignments facilitates the understanding of what was read?understanding of what was read?The questions are then restated as The questions are then restated as a research hypothesisa research hypothesis••Students who take notes as they read Students who take notes as they read will score higher on a comprehension will score higher on a comprehension test than students who dontest than students who don’’t.t.21717The Research HypothesisThe Research HypothesisA A researchresearchhypothesishypothesisis a tentative is a tentative statement about a relationship between statement about a relationship between two or more variables.two or more variables.Examples of hypotheses: Examples of hypotheses: ••Defendant attractiveness will influence jury Defendant attractiveness will influence jury decisionsdecisions••Children from singleChildren from single--parent homes will be parent homes will be more independent.more independent.••Regular exercise will reduce depression.Regular exercise will reduce depression.1818The Research HypothesisThe Research HypothesisHypotheses must be testable.Hypotheses must be testable.The concepts used must be operationally The concepts used must be operationally defined.defined.••Operationally defining a concept means that Operationally defining a concept means that the way you measure a concept is how you the way you measure a concept is how you define it.define it.““attractiveattractive””is operationally defined as receiving a is operationally defined as receiving a rating above 7 on a 10 point scale.rating above 7 on a 10 point scale.““independentindependent””is operationally defined as is operationally defined as ““completing completing a specified task with no prompts or instructionsa specified task with no prompts or instructions””..How would you operationally define How would you operationally define ““depressiondepression””??1919VariablesVariablesA variable is any event or behavior or A variable is any event or behavior or characteristic that can change (have more characteristic that can change (have more than one value).than one value).••Examples of variables are amount of exercise, Examples of variables are amount of exercise, level of attractiveness, level of independence, level of attractiveness, level of independence, weight, etc.weight, etc.A A ““relationshiprelationship””between variables means between variables means that as one variable changes the that as one variable changes the ““relatedrelated””variable also changes.variable also changes.••For example For example ““as the amount of aerobic as the amount of aerobic exercise increases, the personexercise increases, the person’’s weight s weight decreasesdecreases””demonstrates a relationship demonstrates a relationship between exercise and weight.between exercise and weight.32020Operationally define the underlined variables in the Operationally define the underlined variables in the following hypothesis statements and say what the following hypothesis statements and say what the ““relationshiprelationship””in each may be.in each may be.ExerciseExerciseis related to levels of is related to levels of stressstress..A pregnant woman's A pregnant woman's dietdietaffects the affects the birth weightbirth weightof her baby.of her baby.The The sizesizeof a meeting is related to the of a meeting is related to the qualityqualityof of the meeting.the meeting.Visual imageryVisual imageryimproves improves memorymemory..WorkingWorkingwhile going to college effects the while going to college effects the educational outcomeeducational outcomeof the studentof the student2121Generating Research IdeasGenerating Research IdeasChallenging common senseChallenging common senseObserve the world around you Observe the world around you looking for regularities and asking looking for regularities and asking whywhyReviewing past researchReviewing past researchSolving practical problemsSolving practical problemsTesting theoriesTesting