Chapter 1 Research Strategies: How Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions

Description

Psychologists describe behavior using case studies,

surveys, and naturalistic observation

Description

Case Study observation

technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principals

Is language uniquely human?

Description

Survey technique for ascertaining the self-

reported attitudes or behaviors of people usually by questioning a representative,

random sample of people False Consensus Effect

tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors

Description

Population all the cases in a group, from which

samples may be drawn for a study Random Sample

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Description

Description

If marbles of two colors are mixed well in the large jar, the fastest way to know their ratio is to blindly transfer a few into a smaller one and count them

Description

Naturalistic Observation observing and

recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Correlation Correlation Coefficient

a statistical measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus how well either factor predicts the other

Correlation coefficient

Indicates directionof relationship

(positive or negative)

Indicates strengthof relationship(0.00 to 1.00)

r = +.37

Correlation

Scatterplot a graphed cluster of dots, each of which

represents the values of two variables the slope of the points suggests the

direction of the relationship the amount of scatter suggests the

strength of the correlation little scatter indicates high correlation

also called a scattergram or scatter diagram

Correlation

Perfect positivecorrelation (+1.00)

No relationship (0.00) Perfect negativecorrelation (-1.00)

Scatterplots, showing patterns of correlations

CorrelationHeight and Temperament of 20 Men

123456789

10

11121314151617181920

80636179746962757760

64767166737063716870

75666090604242608139

48697257637530578439

SubjectHeight in

Inches Temperament SubjectHeight in

Inches Temperament

Correlation

Scatterplot of Height and Temperament

55 60 65 70 75 80 85

959085807570656055504540353025

Temperamentscores

Height in inches

CorrelationThree Possible Cause-Effect Relationships

(1)Low self-esteem

Depression

(2)Depression

Low self-esteem

Low self-esteem

Depression

(3)Distressing events

or biologicalpredisposition

could cause

could cause

could cause

or

or

and

Illusory Correlation

Illusory Correlation the

perception of a relationship where none exists

Conceive Do not conceive

Adopt

Do notadopt

disconfirming evidence

confirming evidence

disconfirming evidence

confirming evidence

Two Random Sequences

Your chances of being dealt either of these hands is precisely the same: 1 in 2,598,960.