RESEARCH
METHODS IN
PSYCHOLOGY
HISTORICAL PSYCHOLOGY
RESEARCH
Modern sophistication was not always present
Psychology’s roots exist in Philosophy and the
natural sciences which sprung from it
Rene Descartes’ disagreement with dualism (the
concept that mind and body are separate and
distinct)
HISTORICAL
PSYCHOLOGY
RESEARCH, CONT.
Wilhelm Wundt founded the first psychology
laboratory in 1879
He tried to test his theories and statements by
collecting ‘scientific’ data
HISTORICAL PSYCHOLOGY
RESEARCH, CONT.
Although unreliable and cumbersome, his
method of introspection led to the use of
the scientific method in psychology
• Introspection: a method of self-observation in which participants
report their thoughts & feelings in carefully controlled situations
HOW DO MODERN
PSYCHOLOGISTS
DEVELOP NEW
KNOWLEDGE?
Psychologists, like researchers
in all other sciences, use the
scientific method to test their
ideas empirically
HOW DO MODERN
PSYCHOLOGISTS
DEVELOP NEW KNOWLEDGE?
• What is the scientific method?
• A step-by-step process for empirical investigation
of a hypothesis under conditions designed to
control biases and subjective judgments
• Psychologists obtain empirical results from
experiments using the scientific method
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Gathering Objective Data
Developing a Hypothesis
Perform Controlled Test(s)
Analyze the Results
Publishing, criticizing, &
replicating the Results
THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Gathering
objective data
Developing a
hypothesis
Perform Controlled
Test(s)
Analyze the
Results
Publish,
criticize &
replicate the
results
Data:
Information gathered by
researcher and used to test a
hypothesis
THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Gathering
objective data
Developing a
hypothesis
Perform Controlled
Test(s)
Analyze the
Results
Publish,
criticize &
replicate the
results
Hypothesis:
A statement predicting the
outcome of a scientific study
THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Gathering
objective data
Developing a
hypothesis
Perform Controlled
Test(s)
Analyze the
Results
Publish,
criticize &
replicate the
results
Independent variable:
The variable manipulated by
the experimenter
THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Gathering
objective data
Developing a
hypothesis
Perform Controlled
Test(s)
Analyze the
Results
Publish,
criticize &
replicate the
results
Based on statistical
analyses of results, the
hypothesis is accepted or
rejected
THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Gathering
objective data
Developing a
hypothesis
Perform Controlled
Test(s)
Analyze the
Results
Publish,
criticize &
replicate the
results
Researchers must find
out whether their work can
withstand the scrutiny of
the scientific community
HOW DO PSYCHOLOGISTS
DEVELOP NEW
KNOWLEDGE?
What does empirical mean?
Relying on or derived from observation or
experiment
Psychologists use empirical investigation
An approach to research that relies on sensory
experience and observation as research data
CRITICAL THINKING
WHAT IS CRITICAL THINKING?
Critical thinking is the process of assessing
claims and making judgments on the basis of
well-supported evidence. When using critical
thinking, try to ask these questions:
CRITICAL THINKING
1.What am I being asked to believe or accept?
2.What evidence is available to support the
assertion?
3.Are there alternative ways of interpreting the
evidence?
4.What additional evidence would help
evaluate the alternatives?
5.What conclusions are most reasonable?
COMMON MYTHS PROVEN WRONG
 You can’t fool a lie detector:Very false, and we’ll see why
later.
CRITICAL THINKING AND
PSYCHOLOGY
• So, why do we care about critical thinking in
Psychology? Outside of making sure you check
your sources and don’t get scammed by
“alternative medicine” or psychics, critical
thinking is a huge part of research in
Psychology.
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The Beginning: After making observations about the
world or behavior, ask a question you want answered
(“Does making rapid eye movements help reduce
anxiety?”) After doing research, transform this
question into a hypothesis: a specific, testable
proposition about your subject (“People who perform
rapid eye movements during therapy have significant
reductions in anxiety.”)
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
• As Hank said, “replication is key”.
Therefore, you must provide an operational
definition. This is common language that
distinctly and clearly lays out the experiment
to be conducted (“People who perform side to
side eye movements for a certain period of
time show a decline of at least 10 points on an
anxiety test compared to those who don’t.”)
OBSERVATIONAL METHODS
• Sometimes the best way to describe behavior
is through observational methods.
Observational methods are used to study,
describe and predict behavior and mental
processes. These are different from
experiments, in which scientists control and
explain behavior and mental processes.
TYPES OF OBSERVATIONAL
METHODS
• Naturalistic Observation: The process of watching without
interfering as behavior occurs in its natural environment. By
observing adults working together or children playing, or
observing animal interactions, scientists are able to see their
behaviors as they naturally occur. Hank Green joked saying it
was “spying”, but that isn’t too far off (although they have
permission from humans).
• Problems: Humans who know they are being observed often
act differently than natural. Biases on the part of researchers
may prevent them from seeing certain behaviors.
TYPES OF OBSERVATIONAL
METHODS
• Case Studies: Intensive examinations of behavior or
mental processes for one particular individual, group,
or situation. Much of Freud’s research was based in
case studies, and the field of neuropsychology, or
the study of relationships between brain activity and
thinking, rely on them. One famous example is
“Joseph”, who the movie Rain Man was about.
• Problems: Are very focused. Often contain
information only the research is interested in, and are
unlikely to be applicable to the larger population.
TYPES OF OBSERVATIONAL
METHODS
• Surveys: using interviews and questionnaires to ask people
about a variety of things, including beliefs and intentions. These
include everything from opinion polls to post-shopping surveys.
They enable researchers to get a great deal of information
from a variety of people.
• Problems: The wording of the survey can cause issues, either
with understanding or bias. It is difficult to make sure that your
population is diverse enough to be significant. Survey
participants may avoid embarrassing questions, or choose what
they think they are expected to say.
CORRELATIONAL STUDIES
Correlational studies examine relationships
between variables in order to analyze trends in
data, test predictions, evaluate theories, and
suggest new hypotheses. If two data trends
seem to correlate, or move in similar patterns,
additional research is conducted.
However, it is important to remember:
CORRELATION IS NOT CAUSATION
KEY TERMS IN EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH
• Experiment: A situation in which a researcher
manipulates one variable and then observes the effect of
that manipulation on another variable, while holding
other variables constant.
• Experimental Group: The group that is receiving the
experimental treatment.
• Control Group: The group that is not receiving the
treatment, or is otherwise providing a baseline.
KEY TERMS IN RESEARCH
• Variables are the specific factors or characteristics that are
manipulated and measured in research
• Independent Variables (IV) are variables manipulated by
the researcher. For the ongoing example, that would be
whether or not a patient was using eye movement, how long
the patient and how quickly the patient was making eye
movement, etc.
• Dependent Variables (DV) are the results influenced by
the IVs and are measured by the researchers. In the example,
this would be the levels of anxiety.
KEY TERMS IN RESEARCH
• Data: Data, which is the plural of the word Datum, is all the
information being gathered for the study. This could be
statistics about the subject population, or the outcome of the
experiment, such as those previously mentioned anxiety test
scores. Scientists can often pay more attention to data that
supports their hypothesis. This is called confirmation bias.
We have many ways to combat confirmation bias, including
double-blind experiments and looking for evidence that
rejects our hypothesis.
KEY TERMS IN RESEARCH
• Reliability: Also called “statistical reliability”, this measures the
degree to which the data are stable and consistent. If the
results of a test are not consistent, as in similar after multiple
tests, the experiment is not reliable.
• Validity: Also called “statistical validity”, this measures how
accurately the test measures what it is supposed to measure,
or do what it is supposed to do. If the patients for the eye
movement test claimed reduced anxiety, but did not display
reduced anxiety in their actions and lives, the test would not
be particularly valid.