Scientific Approach to Behavior Experimental Research Descriptive/Correlational Research Statistics and Research Evaluating Research Ethics

Scientific Approach to Behavior

Experimental Research

Descriptive/Correlational Research

Statistics and Research

Evaluating Research

Ethics

Psychology = Common Sense?

• “Birds of a feather flock together.”

• “Opposites attract.”

• “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

• “Out of sight, out of mind.”

• “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

• “Beauty is only skin deep.”

Goals of the Scientific Enterprise

1. Measurement and description

2. Understanding and prediction

3. Application and control




Statistics andResearch

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Anxiety

Ethics




How Affects

EthicsStatistics andResearch

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School Business


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Theories

InductiveLogic

Hypotheses

DeductiveLogic

Research

HowHypothesesare Tested


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Hypothesis: Students who study over a span of 3 weeks before a test perform better than those who wait until the night before

MethodData Collection Analysis

Report Findings


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Independent Variable

DependantVariable

ExperimentalGroup

ControlGroup

ExtraneousVariables


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Absence of Pain = Dependant Variable

Independent Variable

Experimental Group

Control Group


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IndependentVariable #1

Independent Variable #2


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DependantVariable #1

DependantVariable #2

WorkerSatisfaction


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Experiments are Often Artificial

Ethical Concerns

Practical Realities


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DOGS

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=america%27s+got+talent+olate+dogs+final




Detailed case histories are worked up for youngsters referred to counseling because of excessive aggressive behavior in school. The childrenare interviewed, as are their parents and teachers.


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dA2W0SwIwY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dA2W0SwIwY





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Population

Unrepresentative Sample


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Central Tendency

Variability Correlation





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Positive CorrelationHigh scores on X are associated with high scores on Y,and low scores on X are associated with low scores on Y.

# of CigarettesSmoked

X

Blood PressureReading

Y

# of Cigarettes Smoked

X

Blood Pressure Reading

Y


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Correlation

Negative CorrelationHigh scores on X are associated with low scores on Y,and low scores on X are associated with high scores on Y.

Amount ofCocaine Ingested

X

# of HoursSlept

Y

Amount ofCocaine Ingested

X

# of HoursSlept

Y





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Correlation

Negative Correlation Positive Correlation

Strength of Relationship

Increasing Increasing

High Moderate Low HighModerateLow

1.00.90.80.70.60.50.40.30.20.100-.10-.20-.30-.40-.50-.60-.70-.80-.90-1.00





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Correlation





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.05 level of significance

Comparing Research Methods




Replication Meta-analysis

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RobertRosenthal

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Ethics

“If it is all right to use deceit to advance knowledge, then why not for reasons of national security, for maintaining the Presidency, or to save one’s own hide?”

– Warwick 1975

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APA’s Ethical Guidelines for Psychologists

Using recognized standards of competence and ethics, psychologists plan research so as to minimize the possibility of misleading results. Any ethical problems are resolved before research is started. The welfare and confidentiality of all participants are to be protected.

Psychologists are responsible for the dignity and welfare of participants. Psychologists are also responsible for all research they perform or is performed by others under their supervision.

4 Major Considerations

1. Informed consent

2. No harm

3. Confidentiality/anonymity

4. Debriefed

**IRB** Institutional Review Board

Psychologists obey all state and federal laws and regulations as well as professional standards governing research.

Except for anonymous surveys, naturalistic observations, and similar research, psychologists reach an agreement regarding rights and responsibilities of both participants and researchers before research is started.

When consent is required, psychologists obtain a signed, informed consent before starting any research with a participant.

Deception is used only if no better alternative is available. Under no condition is there deception about (negative) aspects that might influence a participant’s willingness to participate.

Other issues covered include sharing and utilizing data, offering inducements, minimizing evasiveness, and providing participants with information about the study.

Confidentiality

Records are private

Exception: to protect the well-being of the client or of other people

Deception

New drug experiments often use placebos

May use deception in the following situations:

- when they believe that the benefits of the research outweigh its potential harm

- when they believe participants would have been willing to participate if they understood the benefits

- when participants receive an explanation of the study after it has occurred

Neil Miller

EthicsEvaluating Research





Ethics

Both human and animal subjects should be treated with dignity

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EthicsEvaluating Research





Documents

Scientific Approach to Behavior Experimental Research Descriptive/Correlational Research Statistics and Research Evaluating Research Ethics