MODULE

2

PSYCHOLO

GY & S

CIENCE

ANSWERING QUESTIONS

Researchers tend to use three methods

Each one provides different kinds of information

SurveyCase studyExperiment

SURVEY

Way to obtain information by asking many individualsPerson to person, telephone or mailAnswer a fixed set of questions about particular subjects

SURVEY (CONT’D)Disadvantages Information can contain errorsResults can be biasedHow questions are worded and who asks them

AdvantagesQuick and efficient way to collect information on behaviors, beliefs, experiences, and attitudes from a large sample of people

Can compare answers from various ethnic, age, socioeconomic, and cultural groups

CASE STUDY

Case study In-depth analysis of the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, experiences, behaviors, or problems of a single individual

Most often are a Personal case study: testimonial statement in support of a particular viewpoint based on detailed

observation of a person’s own personal experience

There can be errorserror and bias: self-fulfilling prophecy

CASE STUDY (CONT’D)

DisadvantageDetailed information about a particular person may not apply to others

AdvantageDetailed information allows greater understanding of a particular person’s life

EXPERIMENT: USE OF PLACEBOS

Placebo Intervention in experimentEx…….taking a pill, receiving an injection, or undergoing an operation, that resembles medical therapy but, in fact, has no medical effects

Placebo effectChange in a patient’s illness that’s attributable to an imagined treatment rather than to a medical treatment

EXPERIMENT: USE OF PLACEBOS

EXPERIMENT: USE OF PLACEBOS (CONT’D)Researchers believe that placebos work by reducing tension and distress and by creating powerful self-fulfilling prophecies

I HAVE HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM

Individuals think and behave as if the drug, actually a placebo, is effective (HUMANISTIC)

Ex….Teenagers and Alcohol

CORRELATION

CorrelationAn association or relationship between the occurrence of two or more events

Correlation coefficientA number that indicates the strength of a relationship between two or more events: the closer the number is to –1.00 or +1.00, the greater is the strength of the relationship

CORRELATION (CONT’D)

CORRELATION (CONT’D)

Perfect positive correlation coefficient+1.00 means that an increase in one event is always matched by an equal increase in a second event

Positive correlation coefficient Indicates that as one event tends to increase, the second event tends to, but does not always, increase

Increases from +0.01 to +0.99 indicate a strengthening of the relationship between the occurrence of two events

CORRELATION (CONT’D)

Zero correlation Indicates that there is no relationship between the occurrence of one event and the occurrence of a second event

Negative correlation coefficient Indicates that as one event tends to increase, the second event tends to, but does not always, decrease

-0.01 to -0.99 indicates a strengthening in the relationship of one event increasing and the other decreasing

CORRELATION (CONT’D)

Perfect negative correlation coefficient

-1.00 means that an increase in one event is always matched by an equal decrease in a second event

Correlations such as -1.00 are virtually never found in applied psychological research

DECISIONS ABOUT DOING RESEARCHWhat is the best technique for answering

a question?

Questionnaires and interviewsLaboratory experimentsStandardized testsAnimal models

DECISIONS ABOUT DOING RESEARCH (CONT’D)

InterviewTechnique for obtaining information by asking questions

ranging from open-ended to highly structured subject’s behaviors and attitudes,

one-on-one situation

QuestionnaireTechnique for obtaining informationSubjects read a list of written questions and check off specific answers

DECISIONS ABOUT DOING RESEARCH (CONT’D)

Laboratory experiments information about the brain, genes, or behavior

least error and bias by using a controlled environment that

allows careful observation and measurement

Standardized testsadministering a psychological test

given to hundreds of peopleshown to reliably measure thought patterns, personality traits, emotions, or behaviors

DECISIONS ABOUT DOING RESEARCH (CONT’D)

Animal modelsexamining or manipulating some behavioral, genetic, or physiological factor

that is similar to some human problem, disease, or condition

Example researchers genetically altered mice to have extra receptors for

brain chemicals involved in schizophrenia

APPLICATION: RESEARCH CONCERNSConcerns about being a subjectHuman and animal

Code of ethicsAmerican Psychological Association (APA) publishes a code of ethics and conduct for psychologists to follow when doing research, counseling, teaching, and related activities

Code spells out the responsibilities of psychologists and the rights of participants

APPLICATION: RESEARCH CONCERNS (CONT’D)

Ethics of animal research

How many animals are used in research? estimated over 25 million animals used each year in biomedical research

Are research animals mistreated? of the millions of animals used in research, only a few cases of animal

mistreatment have been confirmed researchers support the Animal Research Act

APPLICATION: RESEARCH CONCERNS (CONT’D)

Ethics of animal research

Is the use of animals justified? researchers are currently using animals to study many things

including epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, fetal alcohol syndrome, schizophrenia, AIDS, and transplantation of brain tissue, none of which is possible with human subjects

Who checks on the use of animals in research? US Department of Agriculture universities hire veterinarians universities have animal subject committees

APPLICATION: RESEARCH CONCERNS (CONT’D)

Ethics of animal research

How do we strike a balance? many experts in the scientific, medical, and mental health communities

believe that the conscientious and responsible use of animals in research is justified and should continue

• Get into groups of two and get out a piece of paper. Your group member needs to be someone who you have not worked with yet in this class.

• Pretend for a second that you are a psychologist in a university setting that has a budget to perform an experiment. For each of the following types of experiments you need to propose and idea that you that you would like to see tested for each different type of experimental method. Tell me your rational for wanting to see this experiment done.

Questionnaires and interviews

Laboratory experiments

Standardized tests

Animal models

DECISIONS ABOUT DOING RESEARCH

Questionnaires and interviews

Laboratory experiments

Standardized tests

Animal models