NAME:
HOUR: _______
RESEARCH METHODS GUIDED NOTES
Goals of Psychology are to…
Steps to the Scientific Method
Researchers need to be able to determine if…their conclusions are reasonable or not. This is why
they use the scientific method.
1.Form a
2.Develop a
3.Test
4.Analyze
5.Draw a
6.Report results:
–Publication
–
What is the difference between Common Sense and Science?
Bias: The Enemy of Researchers
Bias –
Hindsight Bias –
Overconfidence –
Confirmation Bias Researcher Bias –
Volunteer Bias –
Participant Bias –
How Do We Eliminating Bias?
Placebo Effect –
Nocebo Effect -
Single Blind Study –
Double Blind Study –
Research Methods:
2 Basic Categories of Research Strategies:
1. Descriptive -
2. Experimental -
Definition
Benefit
Longitudinal Study
Cross Sectional Study
Naturalistic
Observation
Laboratory
Observation
Case Study
Survey
What’s the difference between a representative sample and random sample?
What’s the difference between a longitudinal study and a cross sectional study?
Drawback
What does it mean when we say that one can generalize their study’s results (generalization) –
CORRELATIONS:
 Correlations examine the
• A correlational study does
just that they are related.
between categories of facts.
determine
________ the two variables are related--
•Correlational studies are helpful in making
 Correlation cannot prove __________________.
 Positive Correlation –
 Negative Correlation –
 Zero Correlation –
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD:
Experiments are the only way one can prove a
Variable –
Independent Variable –
Dependent Variable –
Confounding Variable –
Experimental Group –
Control Group –
What are the limitations of an experiment?
and
relationship.
Try applying these terms to the following example:
Arlene wanted to increase the productivity of the clerical staff in her plant. She thought painting
their cubicles blue (her favorite color) would increase their rate of work completion but that
painting the cubicles yellow (a color she thought was harsh) would have no effect or might even
slow down the clerical staff’s rate of completion. To test the idea she had the work cubicles in the
Sales Dept. painted blue and those in the Public Relations Dept. painted yellow. Then she kept
track of how many projects each department completed in the next three months. For the twomonth period following the painting, the sales clerical staff dramatically outperformed the public
relations clerical staff in the number of projects completed.
What is the Independent Variable?
What is the Dependent Variable?
Are there any Confounding Variables?
What is the Experimental Group?
What is the Control Group?
What’s the limitations or flaws in this experiment?
ETHICS:
Confidentiality –
Informed Consent -