Research Methods
Stangor, Chapter 1
Behavioral Research
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Behavioral Medicine
Communication
Criminology
Human Development
Education
Psychology
Sociology
Behavioral Research
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How people perceive the world
How people think
How people feel
How people change over time
How people learn
How people make decisions
How people interact with the world & other
people
Behavioral Research
• Philosophers
• Religious Leaders
• Politicians
They make Rational arguments based on
personal beliefs, faith, and intuition.
Behavioral Research
Behavioral Scientists base their
statements/arguments via Empiricism.
Empiricism – data (information) is gathered in a
systematic fashion and is analyzed. Empirical
data and results must be physically observable
and repeatable.
Everyday “Science” vs. Empirical
Research
• Relying on intuition
Hindsight bias
Learning through personal correlation
observations
The Scientific Method
• The assumptions, rules, and procedures that
scientists use.
• Empirical – observable & repeatable
• Objective – free from the personal bias or
emotions of the scientist (sometimes difficult)
Limitations in Scientific Research
Statements that cannot be objectively measured
or objectively determined to be true or false are
not within the domain of scientific inquiry.
Values vs. Facts
• Values – are personal statements such as: “Abortion
should not be permitted,” “I will go to heaven when I
die,” or “It is important to study behavioral research.”
• Facts – are objective statements determined to be
accurate through empirical study. Examples: “There
were over 16,000 homicides in the U.S. in 2002” and
“Behavioral research demonstrates that individuals
who are exposed to highly stressful situations over long
periods of time are particularly likely to develop health
problems such as heart disease and cancer.”
Values vs. Facts
• Because values cannot be considered to be
either true or false, science cannot prove or
disprove them.
Distinguishing Between Facts & Values
• Often more difficult in behavioral science vs.
natural science/
• Many, many operators (variables) effect
behavior. Therefore, often, there is great
debate over the results from behavioral
research.
Values & Facts
• One of the goals of the scientific method is to
be objective, but this does not mean that
values do not come into play in science.
• Thus, the goal of science is not to make
everything objective, but rather to make clear
which parts of the research process are
objective and which parts are not.
Research Report (APA)
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Title Page
Abstract
Introduction (relatively subjective)
Method (completely objective)
Results (completely objective)
Discussion (relatively subjective)
Basic & Applied Research
• The two fundamental types of research that
are conducted: Basic Research and Applied
Research
Basic Research
• Primarily for the intellectual satisfaction of
knowing something.
• Answers fundamental questions about behavior.
For instance, cognitive psychologists study how
different types of practice influence memory for
pictures and words, and biological psychologists
study how nerves conduct impulses from the
receptors in the skin to the brain. There is no
particular reason to study such things except to
acquire a better knowledge of how these
processes occur.
Applied Research
• Primarily for the purpose of gaining practical
knowledge about a particular social issue or
problem.
• Investigates issues that have implications for
everyday life and provide solution to everyday
problems.
Three Goals for Studying Research
Methods
• Learn how to evaluate research reports
• Learn how to conduct research
• Learn how to think critically about research
The Three Primary Research Designs
• Descriptive Research
• Correlation Research
• Experimental Research
Descriptive Research
(Assessing the Current State of Affairs)
• Provides a snapshot of thoughts, feelings, or
behaviors at a given place or time.
• Surveys & Interviews
• Naturalistic Observation
• Qualitative or Quantitative
Correlational Research
(Relationships Among Variables)
• May be positive or negative relationships
• May be used to make predictions
• May not infer Causation
Experimental Research
• Requires a manipulation
• Requires an Independent Variable
• May infer causation