Top Banner
Research Methods
24

Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Dec 27, 2015

Download

Documents

Stella Lambert
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

ResearchMethods

Page 2: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Key Points

• What is empirical research?

• What is the scientific method?

• How do psychologists conduct research?

• What are some important ethical considerations in conducting psychological research?

Page 3: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

The Scientific Method

• Step by step process for guiding research

• Provides an objective, systematic framework for research

• Cyclical

Page 4: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Steps of the Scientific Method

1. Review the literature2. Formulate a testable hypothesis3. Design the study and collect the data4. Analyze the data and accept or reject the

hypothesis5. Publish, replicate and seek scientific

review6. Theory building

Page 5: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Step 1:Reviewing the literature

• What research has been done in this area?

• What are the current theories?

• Consult scientific journals only.

• What can my research add to the current knowledge?

Page 6: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Step 2: Formulate a testable hypothesis

• Develop a specific prediction related to the area of interest

• Must be “testable”

Page 7: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Step 3: Design the study and collect the data

• How can you test your hypothesis?

• What type of study can be done?

• Collect data

Page 8: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Step 4: Analyze the data and accept or reject hypothesis

• Depending on the type of study conducted, you may use statistics to analyze the data

• Does data support or negate the hypothesis?

• Proving the hypothesis incorrect is not a failure

Page 9: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Step 5: Publish, replicate and seek scientific review

• Share data to expand current knowledge

• Conduct the experiment again to see if results are consistent

• Seek critical evaluation from professional peers

Page 10: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Step 6: Theory BuildingThe Cycle continues

• Good research stimulates additional research

• Encourages growth in our knowledge

Page 11: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Scientific Method vs. research design

• The scientific method outlines the steps used in any type of study

• The research design describes the type of study conducted

Page 12: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Research Designs

• The range of research questions in psychology requires a range of options for conducting research

• You are not always in a position to control the variables of interest

• Every design has advantages and disadvantages

Page 13: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Who will be in the study?

• Population - the entire group of people of interest to the researcher (who should the results apply to?)

• Sample - the actual participants in the study, representative of the population

Page 14: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Types of Research Designs

• Experimental research

• Correlational research

• Surveys, questionnaires

• Observations

• Case Studies

Page 15: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

The Experiment

• Only type of study that allows for statement of cause and effect

• Experimenter has degree of control over key variables not possible in other research designs

Page 16: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Characteristics of experimental research

• Independent and dependent variables

• Experimental and control groups

• Random assignment to groups

Page 17: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Independent and dependent variables

• Dependent Variable - what is being measured in the experiment to determine the effect of the independent variable?

• Independent variable - what is the experimenter manipulating in the experiment?

Page 18: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Experimental and control groups

• Experimental group - participants in the study who are exposed to the independent variable

• Control group - “comparison group”, participants in the study who do not experience the independent variable

• NOTE: participants are randomly assigned to these groups

Page 19: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Experimental Research Cautions

• Experimenter Bias - occurs when the experimenter’s own expectations influence the outcome of the research

• Research Participant Bias - reflects research participants’ beliefs about how they are expected to behave

Page 20: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Correlational Research

• Examines the relationship between two variables

• Cannot establish that one variable causes the other, just that they are related

• Relies on statistical analysis• Strength of relationship measured from -1.0

to +1.0• Positive, negative or zero?

Page 21: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Case studies

• Descriptive data about an individual

• Helpful in obtaining data about rare cases

• Generalization is limited

Page 22: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Observations

• Naturalistic - occurs in the natural setting

• Laboratory - occurs in a controlled setting

Page 23: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Surveys/questionnaires

• Very common form of research

• Capable of collecting large amounts of data

• Measures people’s behaviors or attitudes

Page 24: Research Methods Key Points What is empirical research? What is the scientific method? How do psychologists conduct research? What are some important.

Ethical Considerations

• APA guidelines for ethical research

• Informed consent( can be withdrawn)

• Confidentiality

• Debriefing/use of deception