Lecture #2
Research Methods
Music:
“Logical”
Supertramp
“Science is Real”
They Might be Giants
Today’s Agenda
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1. Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology (p. 11)
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2. Research Methods (Ch. 2):
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a) Descriptive/Correlation Research
b) Experimental Research
3. Improving Academic Performance (Ch. 1)
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Application to the phenomenon of depression
a) Time management
b) Study skills
4. Quiz Questions
1. Theoretical Perspectives
(Table 1.2, p. 13)
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1) Biological:
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2) Cognitive:
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How the unconscious influences behavior
4) Behavioral:
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How your mind (conscious thoughts) influence behavior
3) Psychodynamic:
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How physiology affects thoughts and behavior
How the environment shapes behavior
5) Humanistic:
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Freedom of choice and actualization of the self as determinants
of behavior
1. Theoretical Perspectives(cont’d)
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6) Evolutionary:
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How the behavior initially solved an adaptive
problem and increased chance of reproductive
success
1. Application to Depression
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1) Biological Vulnerability:
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2) Cognitive Vulnerability:
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Genetic vulnerability
Neurochemical imbalance in the brain
Self-blame (attribution bias)
Dysfunctional beliefs
3) Psychoanalytic View:
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Overly harsh superego
Unresolved grief over early loss
Anger turned inward
1. Theoretical Perspectives
on Depression (cont’d)
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4) Humanistic View:
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5) Behavioral View:
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Loss of meaning and purpose
Failure to actualize yourself
Lowered social support
Loss of rewards
6) Evolutionary View:
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Involuntary subordination is adaptive and promotes
survival (e.g. prevents pursuit of unrealistic goals)
2. Research Methods
a) Descriptive/Correlational Research
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Designs:
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Case studies:
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Surveys
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Good for rare phenomena, or when other methods can’t be used
Validity issues:
Wording (e.g. public poll)
sampling biases (e.g. Hite report)
social desirability (e.g. beer consumption)
Correlational (r)
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Describes the strength of the relationship between 2 variables
(r= -1.0 to +1.0)
Correlations enable prediction but say nothing about causation
2. a) Correlational data
2.a) Correlations
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Third variable can account for a
relationship
2. b) Experimental Studies
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Most powerful method to detect cause and effect relationships
Components:
 Independent Variable (“X”):
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Dependent Variable (“Y”)
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What is manipulated; the “cause” or explanation for something
The outcome (the something) affected by the manipulation
How does “X” affect “Y”?
Control Group:
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No manipulation, otherwise treated the same.
Differences between control and experimental groups allow
conclusions about the effect of “X” on “Y.”
3. Improving Your Academic
Performance (Personal Application Chapter 1)
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a) Time Management Skills:
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See Figures 1.9 & 1.10
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Written schedule with study blocks
Prioritize your goals
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Note: Distributed learning is more effective than massed
learning
Reward Yourself!
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Break down difficult tasks into small steps
Do the hardest task during your “best time”
After, not before 
b) Study Skills
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Study Area:
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“Stimulus-response” theory
Combat distractions!
3. b) Study Skills (cont’d)
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Reading:
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SQ3R method:
Survey
Question
Read
Recite
Review
Summary: For success in university:
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1) Attend your lectures
2) Timing is everything
3) Practice makes perfect
4. Quiz Questions:
(breathe in…. and out….)
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Consider the following research methods:
1) experiment
 2) case study
 3) naturalistic observation
 4) survey
 5) correlational study
What would be the most appropriate research method for the
following research questions:
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a) Obesity is associated with diabetes
b) The number of assaults increase during heat waves
c) Watching violent television leads to violence in children
d) Psychotherapy improves mental health
4. Quiz Questions (cont’d)
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2) Which correlation coefficient would
reflect the weakest relationship between 2
variables?
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a) .83
b) -1
c) .19
d) -.07
e) can’t tell based on the numerical value
See you next week!