RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH METHODS

Used to observe and describe behavior
 Help
to answer questions such when do certain
behaviors occur
 How often does the behavior occur
 Is the behavior related to other factors such as age,
ethnic group or educational level
NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION

The systematic observation and recording of
behaviors as they occur in their natural setting
 Non-intrusive
 Realistic
settings
NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION

Advantages:
 Study
behaviors that can not be ethically
manipulated
 Ex:
School children being bullied on the playground
NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION

Disadvantages:
 Can
not control variables
 Data collection may be inefficient
 Investigator bias may exist
 Does not show cause and effect

Sigmund Freud
CASE STUDIES

An intensive study of a single individual or
small group of similar individuals resulting in a
detailed picture of the individual
CASE STUDIES

Advantages:
 Complex
behavior can be intensively studied and
used to provide insights into the psyche of the
individual/group or used to improve treatment
strategies
CASE STUDIES

Disadvantages:
 Data
collected may be based on false memories
 Does not show cause and effect
 Individual may be lying
SURVEYS

A questionnaire or interview designed to
investigate the opinions, behaviors, or
characteristics or a particular group.
SURVEYS

Advantages:
 Efficient
collection of data from a large group
 Can be used to measure attitudes or opinions
SURVEYS

Disadvantages:
 Subjects
may lie or be dishonest
 Does not show cause and effect
 Responses may be altered by collection method
 Ex:
Motivated subjects may be more likely to submit
CORRELATION STUDIES

A research strategy that allows the precise
calculation of how strongly related, or
associated, two factors are to each other

Correlation coefficient: A numerical indication
of the magnitude and directions of the
relationship between two variables
CORRELATION STUDIES

Correlation Coefficient:
 The
closer a correlation coefficient is to 1.00,
whether it is positive or negative, the stronger the
correlation between the two factors
 Positive
correlation: When the two factors vary in the
same direction., i.e. the factors both increase or
decrease
 Negative correlation: When the two factors vary in
opposite directions., i.e. one factor increase and the
other decreases
CORRELATION STUDIES

Advantages:
 Relationships
between two un-like/dis-similar
variables can be established:
 The strength of the relationship between the two
variables can be tested and evaluated, thus weak
relationships can be ruled out for further study
 Strong relationships can be used to make
meaningful predications
CORRELATION STUDIES

Disadvantages:
 Can
not control the variables
 Does
not show cause and effect
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Is a research method used in Psychology to
demonstrate a cause and effect relationship
between changes in one variable and the effect
that is produced on another variable.
 Conducting
an experiment involves deliberately
varying one factor and observing the effect on the
subject
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Advantages:
 Produces
empirical evidence that does show cause
and effect
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Disadvantages:
 Results
Philip Zimbardo
may be misinterpreted
 Results may be tainted if the experiment is not set
up correctly or the researchers have bias
 If experiments are conducted in the laboratory the
behavior may have little to do with actual behavior
 Some research may not be able to reflect actual
behavior, ex. How living together before marriage
effects divorce rates later in life
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Independent Variable:
 The
purposely manipulated factor thought to
produce change in an experiment:
 The
factor or variable that is manipulated by the scientist
in order to change the behavior of the subject
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Dependent Variable:
 The
factor that is observed and measured fro
change in an experiment
 Is
always the subject behavior
 Is “dependent” on the changes in the independent
variable or what the scientist has manipulated
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Experimental Group:
 The
group of subjects who are exposed to all
conditions of the experiment, including the
independent variables
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Control Group (Placebo Control Group):
 The
group of subjects who are exposed to all
conditions of the experiment, EXCEPT the
independent variables
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Random Assignment: the process of assigning
participants to either the experiment group or
the control group so that all have an equal
chance of being in either grouping
 Helps
to ensure that any potential differences
among the participants are spread out evenly
across all experimental conditions
 Minimizes the possibility of bias by the researchers
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Single-blind Study:
 Type
of experiment where the researchers are
aware of all of the critical information, but the
subjects do not know about this information.
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Double-blind Study:
 Neither
the subjects or the researchers are aware
of which group has been assigned to the
experimental group or the control group
 Used
to guard against the possibility that the researcher
inadvertently becomes a confounding part of the
experiment by displaying subtle cues that may bias the
results
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Placebo:
A
fake substance, treatment or procedure that has
no known direct effect. It looks like the real
independent variable, but despite its convincing
appearance, it is a sham
 Place
Effect: any change attributed to a person's
beliefs and expectations rather than an actual drug
or treatment