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Chapter 2: The Research Enterprise in Psychology
Basic assumption: events are governed by some lawful orderGoals:Measurement and descriptionUnderstanding and prediction Application and control
Looking for Laws:The Scientific Approach to Behavior
Formulate a testable hypothesisTheory or data-drivenOperational definition
Select the research method and design the studyCollect the data
Analyze the data and draw conclusions
Report the findingsSteps in a Scientific Investigation
Direct ObservationQuestionnaireInterviewPsychological TestPhysiological RecordingExamination of Archival RecordsData Collection Techniques
Experiment = manipulation of one variable under controlled conditions so that resulting changes in another variable can be observedDetection of cause-and-effect relationshipsIndependent variable (IV) = variable manipulatedDependent variable (DV) = variable affected by manipulation How does X affect Y? X = Independent Variable, and Y = Dependent VariableLooking for Causes: Experimental Research
Experimental groupControl group Random assignmentManipulate independent variable for one group only Resulting differences in the two groups must be due to the independent variableExtraneous and confounding variablesExperimental and Control Groups:The Logic of the Scientific Method
Strengths: conclusions about cause-and-effect can be drawnWeaknesses: artificial nature of experimentsethical and practical issuesStrengths and Weaknessesof Experimental Research
Direction of relationship Strength of relationshipCorrelation coefficientCorrelation and predictionCorrelation and causationThe Concept of Correlation
Figure 2.6 Positive and negative correlation
Methods used when a researcher cannot manipulate the variables under studyNaturalistic observationCase studiesSurveysAllow researchers to describe patterns of behavior and discover links or associations between variables but cannot imply causation
Descriptive Methods
Sampling bias Placebo effects Distortions in self-report data:Social desirability bias Response set Experimenter bias the double-blind solutionEvaluating Research:Methodological Pitfalls
The question of deceptionThe question of animal researchControversy among psychologists and the publicEthical standards for research: the American Psychological AssociationEnsures both human and animal subjects are treated with dignityEthics in Psychological Research:Do the Ends Justify the Means?
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