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Epy Topic 2 Notes
Epy Topic 2 Notes
TOPIC CONTENT/NOTES
LECTURE 2
2.1 Introduction
developed into a true science with its own methods of study. In this
lecture, we are going to discuss some of the methods that have
methods.
The Hypothesis
work place.
Learning Activity:
A variable is a factor that may vary or change. It can assume more than
one value, for example factors such as, weight, height, scores on a test,
motivation, and so on. An independent variable is the factor that is
Learning Activities:
experimental research:
• Hypothesis
• Experimental controls
The third type of variables is extraneous variable, that is, factors that may
influence the results if they are not adequately controlled. In the example
given, such factors would include intelligence, age, past experience and
fatigue. Extraneous variables get in the way of the study and make it look
Experimental Controls
The control group (non-treatment group) does not receive such treatment
so as to ensure that any changes in the dependent variable are due to the
treatment administered. The two groups are expected to have similar
What are the non-experimental research techniques and what are their
determine cause and effect in behaviour beyond doubt, they are useful in
Learning Activity:
List the risks of carrying out a study to find out how confinement of an
Naturalistic Observation
or habitat. The subjects should not detect that they are being observed
that they are being observed. However, in other cases the observer may
interact with the subjects being observed in which case the behaviour may
Learning Activity:
In this method, a relatively large number of cases are studied in less depth.
In a survey, the subjects are asked specific questions about their behaviour
or opinion, attitudes etc. Although a small portion of the population is
studied, a careful survey can provide accurate information about how the
large group of people feel about a particular issue. For example, one can
conduct a survey to find out how Kenyans feel about the behavior of police
Learning Activities:
Respond to the following survey questions:
example, you may conduct a case study to find out why police officers go
wild and kill themselves. In your study, you may try to gather information
about his/her home background, intellectual ability, professional habits
and skills, peer influence, motivation, interests and aspirations and so on.
Correlational Studies
correlation study involves finding out the extend to which two sets of
of your study. However, if you are interested on how it is done, you can
Learning Activity:
criminal behavior.
• Cost of education and learners’ dropout. This implies that the higher
the cost of education the bigger the number of children who will drop
out of school.
An example of a situation where you may expect zero correlation would
variables does not necessarily imply that one variable causes the other. A
third variable that was not taken into account may have contributed to the
observed relationship.
to find out how false accusation and confinement can affect a person.
ethics for research in order to protect the subjects and avoid violating
human rights.
children.
• The right to remain anonymous: Subjects have the right to insist that
their interest in group data rather than individual data. Subjects can
explain to the subjects the reasons for this action and make an attempt
participants.