Psychological Research

1
Psychological Research

• How we do what we do

2
Scientific Method

• Theory
• Hypothesis
• Null Hypothesis
• IV DV
• Data Collection
• Conclusions

• Replication
• Reinterpretation
• Reformulation of theories

3
Collecting Data Operationalization

• Self-Report
• Physiological
• Behavioral Observation

4
Types of Studies

• See page 53 of text
• Correlational
• Experiment
• Quasi-Experiment

5
Correlation is not Causation!

• Finding Viewing violent television is correlated
  with violent behavior
• Explanations

Behavior
TV
Third Variable (Home environment, physiological
factors, etc.)
6
Types of Studies

• Correlational Study
• True Experiment
• Experimental and Control Group
• Random Assignment to conditions
• Quasi-Experiment
• Experimental and Control Group
• NO Random Assignment to conditions

7
Biases

• External
• Personal
• Expectancy

8
Ethics

• Consent
• Risks vs. Benefits
• Deception
• Debriefing
• Follow-up
• Special Populations
• Animal Research

9
Reliability Validity

• Reliability the extent to which a finding can be
  replicated
• Validity the extent to which an experiment
  measures the variables it was intended to measure
• Internal
• Construct
• External
• Statistical Conclusion

10
Confounds / Threats to Validity

• Placebo effects
• Experimental Cues
• Reactivity
• History
• Regression
• Selection
• Attrition
• (These are examples, not an exhaustive list)