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Unit 1 Thought Paper - Understanding Research
Shane Park
PSY 1010 – TR 8:30
Understanding Research
The video I chose to watch was the video entitled “Understanding Research.” In this
video Dr. Philip Zimbardo narrates about different types of research that psychologists use. It
begins with talking about the scientific method which is, as stated in the film, general
procedures for gathering and interpreting data. The video discusses many different types of
gathering data. Such ways as: surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and psychological test. One
part of the video focused on Dr. Christina Masloch, from the University of California at Berkley.
The research she conducted on job burnout being linked to stress, lack of support, and negative
self evaluation. Also how these may be linked to job performance and personal wellbeing. The
video demonstrates that after so much research she was able to develop psychometric
research. And another portion of the video focuses on Dr. Daryl Bem, of Cornell University, and
his study of psychic abilities, and many other portions of psychology and research.
As mentioned earlier, the different ways to gather and interpret data are things like
surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and psychological tests. When doing a study of a large
population, the whole group you want to study (Pg. 16), a great way to gather data is through a
survey. A survey is a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a
particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group (Pg. 16).
During Dr. Masloch’s study on job burnout one method used was an interview. In the
interview they used almost a survey type of questionnaire to assess their required data to carry
out the experiment. They sat down with a lady and asked her simple questions. Throughout the
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Unit 1 Thought Paper - Understanding Research
research they gathered more information and were better able to form their questions to get a
greater assessment of how life in the workplace was. This helped them to refine their theories
and begin to take their findings and help others in real life. That is what the point of research is.
What would be the reason to do research if it didn’t help anyone?
Another portion spoken about was that of psychological tests and experiments. The
placebo effect, any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance of
condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent (Pg. 22), is demonstrated in many
ways. I think of something I have heard a lot of in my life, the saying that the mind is a very
powerful thing. Which in fact, it is a very powerful thing. The placebo effect demonstrates how
a treatment of some sort can be administered that has no medical or mental benefit, but it still
gives a benefit. Think of giving two depressed patients medicine; one receiving actual medicine,
and the other receiving sugar pills. They are both under the impression of their treatment being
the same. The doctor would then compare the results of their improvement or vice versa. Just
thinking you are getting a treatment can boost your spirits, relax your body, and relieve your
symptoms (Pg. 22).
One other important aspect of the film describes that you should not always believe
what you hear. You should not accept something to be a fact just because it seems to be that
way. You really need to look deep into the aspects of somebody’s research to assess that it was
all gathered in a correct and scientific manner. Also you want to consider who or what the
information was gathered from. The example given in the video was with Dr. Bem. He sat down
with a subject and performed a magic trick. This is the worst way to develop research. When
conducting research you want to clearly state your hypothesis, a testable prediction (Pg. 14),
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Unit 1 Thought Paper - Understanding Research
and how you plan to test that hypothesis. Do not trust any research that is not done in the
manner stated in the scientific method.
There are some additional types of research that are not mentioned much during the
video. These are such research types as; case studies, naturalistic observation. Naturalistic
observation is when you observe and record behavior in naturally occurring situations without
trying to manipulate and control the situation (Pg. 16). One example of this was shared in class
where you may have shown two groups of students different cartoons. One group was shown
and violent cartoon, and the other a non-violent cartoon. The researchers then would observe
the behavior of the students over the next month and see if the student behavior among those
who watched the violent cartoon became more aggressive than the other children. A case study
is an in-depth study of one individual with the hopes of revealing truths of us all (Pg. 15). Case
studies are among the oldest types of research. They can show us what can happen, but not
necessarily what will, and they often suggest directions for further study.
I will conclude this paper now by giving my personal opinion about the video. I enjoyed
the video and the examples of types of research that can be done to help gather and interpret
information to help us all to better understand and assess our lives. I can take the research
methods learned and apply them to things that matter to me. If I needed to do some research I
now know very good ways to go about gathering information and how to make my research
more widely accepted.