Research in Psychology

Intro. to Psychology PSY-101 Instructor: Ms. Tahira Zafar

Research
Systematic investigation to establish facts


Information gathering

Cont.
Variety of techniques are applied to get into the minds of the people

What Research is?

Attempt to achieve systematically and with the support of data the answer to a question, the resolution to a problem, or the greater understanding of a phenomenon Generation of new information and testing of ideas

Scientific Research
Characteristics of scientific findings are: Empirical Systematic Precise Verifiable Public Ethical & Ideological neutrality Objective

Goals of Scientific Research

Description Explanation Prediction control

Goals Description

Questions asked to reach the goal

What happens? When and where does it happen? How does it happen? Why does it happen? What will happen next? How can we influence this behavior or intervene in this situation?

Explanation Prediction Control

Goals of Psychological Research

Description of social behavior


Are people who grow up in warm climates different from those in cold climates? Does heat cause higher amounts of aggression?

Establish a relationship between cause & effect



Develop theories about why people behave the way that they do


We dislike Duke students to feel better about ourselves Creating effective therapeutic treatments, more successful negotiation tactics, and greater understanding amongst groups of people

Application


Purposes of Research
A research can be undertaken for two different purposes:


To solve a currently existing problem (applied research) To contribute to the general body of knowledge in a particular area of interest (basic/fundamental research)

The Scientific Research Process

Identifying the problem Defining the problem Formulating Hypothesis Data collection Analyzing the data Preparing a report

The Process of Doing Research

First, select a topic


Good theory:
 Has predictive power  Is simple & straightforward
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Then, search the literature



Find out what others have done that may be applicable to your area of interest

The Process of Doing Research

Next, formulate hypotheses


Hypothesis: specific statement of expectation derived from theory

 State the relationship between two variables

Variable: can be any event, characteristic, condition, or behavior

Let s take a closer look . . .at variables

Dependent variable (outcome variable)
 

Dependent on the influence of other factor(s) How do we operationally define?

Independent variable (predictor variable)

 

Factor(s) that change the outcome variable How do we operationally define & manipulate? Control group

The Process of Doing Research

Then pick your research method
 

Experimental vs. co relational (Design Design) Field vs. laboratory (Setting Setting)

Finally, collect & analyze your data

Correlational research
The purpose of correlational research is to discover relationships between two or more variables. Relationship means that an individuals status on one variable tends to reflect his or her status on the other.

Cont.
Helps us understand related events, conditions, and behaviors.


Is there a relationship between educational levels of farmers and crop yields?

To make predictions of how one variable might predict another



Can high school grades be used to predict college grades?

Correlational research
Advantages


Sometimes manipulation of variables is impossible or unethical Efficient look at lots of data

Disadvantages
 

CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSATION Could be a lurking variable

Experimental Research
Researcher manipulates one variable (IV) to see effect on other variable (DV)


Try to hold everything else constant

True experiments have



Random sampling: selecting Sample randomly from population Random assignment: chance assignment to condition

Let s take a closer look . . . at research methods

Research methods used in psychology: Observation Case Study Tests, Questionnaire, Survey Experiment

Imp. Concepts in Research

Population: any set of individuals (or objects) having some common observable characteristics. Sample: the subset of a population which represents the characteristics of the population. A sample consists of respondents or subjects An informant: a person from whom a linguist obtains information about language or culture. A corpus is a collection of written or spoken material. A hypothesis is a tentative statement that proposes a possible explanation to some phenomenon or event

Major Limitations in Conducting a Research

Time Costs Access to resources Approval by authorities Ethical concerns Expertise

Ethics in Research
Should the study be done?
 

Value vs. potential cost APA guidelines Informed consent Confidentiality & anonymity Debriefing

How do we protect Ps?