METHODS OF RESEARCH

RESEARCH METHODS

• HOW DO PSYCHOLOGISTS GO ABOUT

TESTING A THEORY?

VARIOUS FORMS OF RESEARCH ARE USED

SPECIFIC STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN

FORUMLATE A HYPOTHESIS

• STATEMENT OF EXPECTED RESULTS.

• CLEARLY DEFINED

TEST HYPOTHESIS

• Determine the best method to use to test your hypothesis and then develop your procedures.

• Determine if you need an experimental group and one or more control groups.

EXPERIMENTAL GROUP• IS EXPOSED TO THE INDEPENDENT

VARIABLE –WHAT YOU ARE TESTING

CONTROL GROUP

•IS NOT EXPOSED TO THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Experimental group-receives the independent variable

Control group- does not receive the independent variable (may use placebo)Attempt to control other variables

Measure results: dependent variable

If………..(independent variable)

Then……….(dependent variable)

AT 3:00 A.M. IN NYC, KITTY GENOVESE WASATTACKED ON THESTREET IN FRONTOF HER APARTMENT. IT TOOK THE MAN OVER 30 MINUTESTO MURDER HER.

38 NEIGHBORS STOOD AT THEIR WINDOWS

AND WATCHED

KITTY BROKE AWAY FROMHER ASSAILANT, ONLYTO BE CAUGHT AGAIN.

SHE SCREAMED FOR HELPOVER AND OVER AGAIN.

NO ONE HELPED HER ORCALLED THE POLICE.

FINALLY, ONE NEIGHBORCALLED THE POLICE, BUT IT WAS TOO LATEFOR KITTY.

• IN A GAME OF CATCH, THE WAY THE BALL IS THROWN WILL AFFECT WHETHER THE BALL IS CAUGHT.

• STUDENTS SCORE HIGHER ON ACT TESTS IN THE MORNING THAN IN THE AFTERNOON

• STRICT PARENTS RAISE CHILDREN WHO RARELY GET IN TROUBLE.

• The independent variable is the “if” part of the experiment The dependent variable is the “then” part of the experiment-what you are measuring.

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT

FIELD EXPERIMENT

SURVEY METHOD

NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION

INTERVIEW

PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST

MORE ACCURATE, OBJECTIVE DATA

PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST OFTEN COMBINED WITH THE INTERVIEWTO PROVIDE SUBJECTIVE ANDOBJECTIVE PERSPECTIVE.

CASE STUDY METHOD

LONGITUDINAL METHOD

CROSS-SECTIONAL

• LESS EXPENSIVE AND TIME-

CONSUMING THAN THE LONGITUDINAL METHOD.

• NOT APPROPRIATE FOR STUDIES ON

DEVELOPMENT OVER TIME.

CAN YOU TRUST THOSE POLLS

• What method of gathering information has become a public relations and lobbying tool?

• Describe how opinions about funding for foreign aid can show different results depending upon how the question is asked.

• Give similar examples regarding funding for public television, the arts,

and social security.

• What are the five tips one should consider in assessing poll results?

• From what you now know about the standards of research studies, find out as much as you can about any study or poll that you read about in a newspaper or magazine.