Introductions

Your syllabus It is on-line. Write down the following address (in a couple of places) and bookmark it.

WebCT (www.webct.ilstu.edu, also available through iCampus portal)

http://www.psychology.ilstu.edu/jccutti/psych231/f06/f06syllabus2.html

Course Format Lectures on Monday and Wednesday

Given by me (Dr. Cutting) Overview of the main issues in research methodology

Exams (3) are in the lecture sections (45%) Class research project (15%)

Labs on Thursday or Friday (depending on your section) Given by your TAs

• Charles Coey (sections 02 & 04)• Andrew Monroe (sections 03 & 05)

“Hands on” experiences with research In-lab exercises (15%) Group research project (15%) Journal exercises (10%)

Why take research methods?

“Because it is required”

Other good reasons: Psychology is a science You may need to conduct a study Reading and evaluating other studies Making decisions in your daily lives Become a “better thinker”

Course Objectives

Basically the "nuts and bolts" of putting together and completing a research project in psychology. Learning to review the primary literature

Getting a research idea Development and execution of a research plan

Basic analysis of research results. Presentation of the results

Course Requirements 3 Exams (45%)

Each is cumulative. Each exam will be worth 15% of your final grade.

Homework exercises (10%) 2 journal article summary assignments

Lab Assignments (30%) Lab exercises (15%) Lab Group research project (15%)

Research project (15%) Project Proposal (5%) Final APA style manuscript(10%)

Textbooks

Research Methods For the Behavioral Sciences, 2nd edition (Gravetter & Forzano)

Required

Lab Manual, Packet #107 (available from PIP)

The Psychologist’s companion, 4th edition (Sternberg)

Topics

The research process, from start to finish Get an idea Formulate a testable hypothesis Review the literature Design the study Collect data Analyze the data Interpret the results Present the results

Exercise: How do we know?

Write down two things that you “know”.

Write down HOW you “know” those things.

Methods of Inquiry Type of knowledge

Objective - having “real” existence outside of a person’s mind

Subjective - existing in a person’s mind

Ways of knowing Analysis - finding supporting evidence

Acceptance - taking as true

Methods of Inquiry

Objective Subjective

Analysis

Acceptance

Empiricism (Experience)

Logical reasoningAuthority

InstructionRegulation (rules & laws)

Persuasion (by logical means)

Personal preference

Faith

Intuition

Methods of Inquiry The scientific method

A method used to test and analyze claims about behavior

Uses scientific methods of systematic observation and experimentation.

Scientific Method write down two generalizations that you have observed about people’s behavior.

Step 1: Observation Pay attention to the world around you, look for generalizations

Two kinds of generalizations• Descriptive generalizations – just describe how it is/what was seen, without making predictions

• Cause and effect generalizations – makes predictions about the observed relationship between two (or more) things.

Scientific Method Step 2: Develop a theory or hypothesis An explanation for the observed behavior(s)• May be based on past research, common sense, intuition, logic, etc.

Scientific Method Step 3: Generate a testable prediction Need to specify how your hypothesis can be tested.

Falsification is at the heart of the scientific method• More on this next lecture

Scientific Method Step 4: Make systematic observations Observational and experimental methods

• What are the relevant variables?• How do we measure the variables?• What needs to be controlled?

Much of the rest of this course deals with these

Scientific Method Step 5: Evaluate your evidence

Refutes theory Supports theory Leads to the revision of the theory Consider alternative theories

The importance of a critical eye There are always alternative explanations: Psychic Uri Geller

Psychic watch repair Uri Geller, famous psychic. In Australia (and other places), would “heal” watches in audiences and even over radio.

How did he do it? Geller’s claim: Psychic energy from him.

Psychic watch repair Problem:

Someone else replayed tape of the broadcast and found it worked then too

Alternative explanation: Old watches usually not working because oil gummed up. Heat of hands is sufficient for a short time.

Experimental Solution: Add a control group

Scientific Method Step 6: Repeat

observations

hypotheses

predictions

systematicobservations

newhypotheses

predictions

systematicobservations

newhypotheses

Scientific Method Step 1: Observation Step 2: Develop a theory or hypothesis

Step 3: Generate a testable prediction

Step 4: Make systematic observations Step 5: Evaluate your evidence Step 6: Repeat

Next time Getting an idea for an experiment

Chapter’s 1 & 2

Intro & chapter 1