Happy Thursday 09-18-2014
 On your desk: Research/Experiment notes,
 1 sheet of paper, pen/cil
 Warm-up (write on your paper)
 In an experiment, what is the difference
between the Independent and Dependent
Variable?
agenda




Ethics in Psychological Research.
Notes/ Discussion
Famous Psychological Experiments….
Video clips, ethics discussion
Experimental Procedure
(Take notes on the back of your chart)
Experiments are the only type of
research that can reveal a
CauseEffect relationship
Classic experiment
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOYLCy
5PVgM
http://www.discovery.com/tvshows/curiosity/videos/the-milgramexperiment.htm
Parts of an experiment..







HypothesisIndependent VariableDependent VariableSubjectsSampleExperimental GroupControl Group-
 Hypothesis – a statement of the results that
the experimenter expects – not what he/she
already knows – must be made prior to
testing
Example Experiment:
Insomnia vs. Sleeping Pills
 Hypothesis – If X number of sleeping pills
helps the otherwise healthy person with
insomnia then they will sleep better
 Independent variables – the factor that the
experimenter manipulates or changes in a
study
 Dependent Variables – the factor in a study
that changes or varies as a result of
changes in the independent variables – the
results
Insomnia. vs. Sleeping Pills
 Independent variable
– one group – sleeping pills
– two group – placebo
 Dependent Variable
– sleep results (can vary) – better, worse, or
same amount of sleep
 Subjects – people or animals on whom the
experiment is conducted
– Assigned randomly to groups
 Sample – a group that represents a larger
population
Insomnia. vs. Sleeping Pills
 Subjects – two groups similar in physical
health, age and sleep patterns
 Experimental Group – the group on which
the critical part of the experiment is
performed
 Control Group – the group that doesn’t
participate in the critical part of the
experiment
Insomnia. vs. Sleeping.Pills
 Control Group – get placebo
 Experimental Group – get sleeping pills
 Placebo – “fake medicine” – has no active
ingredients and works by the power of
suggestion
Pirin Tablets
Insomnia. vs. Sleeping Pills
 Results
– hypothesis rejected
– Subjects won’t sleep better
– Have insomnia worse – less restful
 Interferes with dreams because without
dreams sleep loses “curative effect”
Practice Time…
 Now its your turn to set up an experiment
 On your own or with one nearby partner,
you must show understanding of the parts of
an experiment by following the steps of a
given experimental scenario.
 Quiz Grade.
 When finished, work on Chapter 2 ID’s
FAQ
Q1. Can laboratory experiments illuminate
everyday life?
Ans: Artificial laboratory conditions are created to
study behavior in simplistic terms. The goal is to
find underlying principles that govern behavior.
17
FAQ
Q2. Does behavior depend on one’s culture?
Ans: Even when specific attitudes and behaviors
vary across cultures, as they often do, the
underlying processes are much the same.
Ami Vitale/ Getty Images
18
FAQ
Q3. Does behavior vary with gender?
Ans: Yes. Biology determines our sex, and culture
further bends the genders. However, in many ways
woman and man are similarly human.
19
FAQ
Q4. Why do psychologists study animals?
Ans: Studying animals gives us the understanding
of many behaviors that may have common biology
across animals and humans.
D. Shapiro, © Wildlife Conservation Society
20
FAQ
Q5. Is it ethical to experiment on animals?
Ans: Yes. To gain insights to devastating and fatal
diseases. All researchers who deal with animal
research are required to follow ethical guidelines in
caring for these animals.
21
ETHICS….
 What are ethics?
 Methods of conduct or standards for proper
and responsible behavior.
 Examples of ethics in psychological
research:
 Confidentiality
 Dignity and welfare of participants
 All state and federal laws obeyed
 Providing participants with accurate
information
Ethics study…copy 1-6 on your
paper.







1. Little Albert
2. Milgram Shock Treatment
3. Asch Conformity
4. Bystander Effect
5. Brown eyed Blue eyed
6. Stanford Prison
For each of these famous experiments, do
you notice any ethical violations?
http://mentalfloss.com/article/52787/10famous-psychological-experiments-couldnever-happen-today
The HUMAN BRAIN….
TED Talk-- http://www.ted.com/talks/suzana_herculano
_houzel_what_is_so_special_about_the_hu
man_brain
 Write down 2 ideas/questions/facts from the
TED talk on your paper