PSYCH 7A Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Operational Definition, Google Scholar, Psycinfo
29 Jun 2018
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PSYCH 7A - Lecture 3 - Research Methods
The Scientific Method
●Scientific method – an orderly, systematic process for investigating phenomena and
acquiring new knowledge
●Basic Process:
1. Observe some phenomenon that we would like to find out about
2. Form theory to explain phenomenon and predict results
3. Generate a testable hypothesis
4. Conduct research to test hypothesis
5. Refine theory
●theory – an explanation of some phenomenon
●hypothesis – a specific, testable prediction based on a theory
Scientific Method: Example
●Example: Cell phone use while driving
●Perhaps we hear a report about someone having an accident while using their cell
phone.
●Theory: Cell phone use impairs driving ability
○We need to test our theory, but it is a bit too general to start collecting and
analyzing data yet
●Hypothesis: Use of cell phone while driving leads to more accidents
○This is testable!
○If our prediction comes true, it supports our theory
●Literature review – a review of the existing research on our topic
○PsycInfo, PubMed, Google Scholar
○Search keywords like “cell phone,” “driving,” “accidents,” etc
○How have other researchers studied this issue? What have they found?
○Previous research helps guide our research (e.g. maybe we see that texting
found to be much more dangerous than talking on cell, so we adjust hypothesis
to “TEXTING while driving lead to more accidents”)
●Design our study:
○Survey?
○Naturalistic observation?
○Experiment?
●Conduct our study: Gather subjects and collect data
●Analyze our data: Use statistics
○Does the data support our hypothesis (that texting impairs driving?)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Psych 7a - lecture 3 - research methods. Scientific method an orderly, systematic process for investigating phenomena and acquiring new knowledge. Basic process: observe some phenomenon that we would like to find out about, form theory to explain phenomenon and predict results, generate a testable hypothesis, conduct research to test hypothesis, refine theory. Theory an explanation of some phenomenon. Hypothesis a specific, testable prediction based on a theory. Perhaps we hear a report about someone having an accident while using their cell phone. Theory: cell phone use impairs driving ability. We need to test our theory, but it is a bit too general to start collecting and analyzing data yet. Hypothesis: use of cell phone while driving leads to more accidents. If our prediction comes true, it supports our theory. Literature review a review of the existing research on our topic. Search keywords like cell phone, driving, accidents, etc.
