Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Question?
Psychology studies the relationship between environment and behavior The Research Question is: how does behavior change if make a change in the environment? So if a psychologist is going to do research, 1. What will be changed? 2. What will be measured?
Experimental Groups
The group exposed to the changed conditions
A procedure is done to this group; the procedure changes the situation or conditions.
Change Environment (independent variable)
Compare the behavior of the experimental group to the control group (and perhaps placebo group)
Measure Behavior (dependent variable)
an intervention that has no impact on what is being observed Common in medication studies
Example 1
Room Temperature and Classroom behavior Experimental Groups
Group 1: elevate temperature to 85 degrees Group 2: lower temperature to 60 degrees
Example 2
Tea Drinking and Test Performance
Experimental Group Group 1: one 8 oz cup of tea before study 1 hr Group 2: two 8 oz cup of tea before study 1 hr Control Group: no tea study 1 hr. Placebo Group Group A: one 8 oz cup of tea flavored fluid Group B: two 8 oz cup of tea flavored fluid Independent Variable: amount of tea Dependent Variable: test performance
Random Assignment: helps to insure that groups are similar. Statistical procedures require or assume random assignment.
How about Experimental Bias? It is possible that the experimenters preconceived ideas can impact observations
Do we blind the researchers?
Interpreting Results
How did the Experimental Group Change? Did the Control Group change? Did the Placebo Group Change? Is the change in the Experimental Group greater than the change in the Control or Placebo Group?
Is This Difference statistically significant?
Do the Findings Suggest Future Research? How Do the Findings Fit into Other Research Findings? Support a theory? Note that a
hypothesis and theory are supported, NOT PROVEN!!!
Non scientific community will bypass the research community and go directly to the media with their findings.
Correlational Methods
Procedure to see how much events or characteristics go along with each other. Looking at the co-relationship between two variables.
Relationship between smoking and lung cancer Relationship between aggression and watching TV Relationship between stress level and depression
Correlational Research
Correlational Research The relationship between two sets of variables is examined to determine whether they are associated, or correlated Correlation does not mean causation Ranges from +1 to -1 Variables Behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change, or vary in some way For example Smoking and lung disease SAT scores and school
There are statistical procedures that address the 3rd variable problem by factoring out the influence of the extraneous variables.
Illusory Correlation
As mentioned, research deals with probability and multi causation. Correlation only says how two events go along with or are associated with each other. But cannot infer cause based on correlation. However, people tend to connect two random events that occur together- see connection when there is not. Blind date leads to marriage. Missing a bus and then meet an old friend. Coincidence will happenno need to explain (but we will.) Even rare events happen
Correlation Research
Ethics of Research: the Nuremberg Code Created during the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi doctors in 1948
The Voluntary Consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. Freely Give Consent to Participate in Research Freedom from Coercion Have the Capacity to Consent
10
Beneficence
Risk and Benefits Qualified Researcher Appropriate Research Design
Justice
Sample Selection Inclusion
11
When a drug (or device) is being tested, it first is done with animals. Then the need to test with people. When would you volunteer? Phase 1: does it harm- is it or when is it toxic? Phase 2: does it help with the disease, illness, or medical condition? Phase 3: large scale testing with large samples Phase 4: post-approval research. Testing medications (and devices) in use
12