Research Strategies Module Two
Feb 14, 2016
Research Strategies
Module Two
Starts with Critical Thinking
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions
0Examines Assumptions0Discerns hidden values0Evaluates evidence0Assesses conclusions
And a scientific attitude
0Three main components1. Curious eagerness2. Skeptically scrutinize competing
ideas3. Open-minded humility before nature
Scientific Method1. Developing a hypothesis
2. Performing a controlled test
3. Gathering objective data
4. Analyzing the result/Survival of Hypothesis (refine hypothesis and retest)
5. Publishing, criticizing and replicating the results
Scientific MethodResearch Process
1. Developing a research question
2. Surveying the literature
3. Hypothesis
4. Identify: Independent variable/Dependent variable/Extraneous variables
5. Controls
6. Sampling/Subjects
7. Procedure
8. Results/Statistics
9. Discussion
10. New Hypothesis
Step One: Developing a hypothesis
0Theory 0 An idea, which hasn’t been disproven0 An explanation using an integrated set of principles
that organizes and predicts observations
0Hypothesis 0 A testable prediction0 Often implied by a theory0 MUST be defined operationally
0CAN BE CONFIRMED OR REFUTED!!
What makes a good theory?
1. Effectively organizes a range of self-reports and observations
2. Implies clear predictions that anyone can use to check the theory
Types of Studies0 Descriptive
0 Observation0Naturalistic0Laboratory
0 Case Study0 Individual0Depth0Problems?
0 Surveys0Random sampling of a
population0Strengths?0Weakness?
0 Correlational0Longitudinal
0 One group over time
0Cross Sectional0 Multiple groups at one time
0Cohort-Sequential
0 Experimental
Descriptive Studies
Case Studies
Advantages Disadvantages
0 In-depth, detailed information about the case
0 Opportunity to study unusual cases
0 Suggests further study
0 Results cannot be generalized
0 Prone to inaccurate reporting from source
0 Cannot be used to establish cause-and-effect relationships
0 Biased researcher?
Ex Post Facto: “After the fact” selection
SurveysAdvantages Disadvantages
0 Large Groups0 Random Sampling0 Easy!
0 Bias in questioning0 Reporting Challenges0 False Consensus Effect
0 (tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors
A Little More on Bias
Expectation Bias
When you allow expectations to affect the outcome of a study
Personal Bias
When you allow personal beliefs to affect the outcome of a study
Naturalistic Observation
Describes, does not explain, behavior
0Used to research
0 Child-rearing practices
0 People’s shopping habits
0 Public courting behaviors
Correlational Studies
Correlational Studies
Advantages Disadvantages
0 Examine, test, reveal, compare or describe relationship between two variables
0 Efficient, collect lots of data
0 Make predictions
0 Dispel illusory correlations
0 Utilize preexisting or archival data
0 Cannot establish cause-and-effect
0 Prone to inaccurate reporting
0 Hard to access the impact of additional variables
0 Do not allow for the active manipulation of variables.
Experimental Studies
Experimentation
The investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe their effect on some behavior or mental process while controlling other relevant factors by random assignment of subjects
Step Two: Setting up the test0 Independent Variable
0 The experimental factor that is manipulated0 Causes something to happen0 The variable whose effect is being studied0 X-Axis
0 Dependent Variable 0 The experimental factor that may change in response to manipulations of
the independent variable 0 In psychology it is usually a behavior or mental process, or test.0 Effect of the independent variable0 Y-Axis
0 Extraneous Variable0 All the other things which may affect the dependent variable
0 Confounding Variable0 Systematically affect the relationship between IV and DV and act like IVs
Experiments and Controls
0 Experimental Group: gets the independent variable0 Control Group: no change
0 Purpose0 Comparison0 Ensure that all groups in the experiment are treated equally except for
the manipulation of the independent variable.
0 Set Up0 Random Assignment0 Double Blind Studies
Experiment Design
Experimental
Advantages Disadvantages
0 Can establish cause-and-effect
0 Operationalization of variables
0 Stresses the control of variables
0 Can implement double-blind or blind procedures
0 High internal validity
0 May be replicated
0Reduce external validity
0Difficult to establish adequate control conditions
0Statistical probability of bias
Step Three: Interpret the Data
More on this to come!
Step Four: Replication0 Can the work withstand the scrutiny of the scientific community?
0 Roughly 2% of the papers submitted to psychological journals get into print without major revisions.
0 Often publish their results in the JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION or the JOURNAL OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY et.al.
0 Critics will look for flaws in the research.
0 Then it is repeated
0 Repeating the essence of a research study to see whether the basic finding generalizes to other subjects and circumstances
0 Usually with different subjects in different situations