PSYC104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Longitudinal Study, Statistical Process Control, Inductivism
8 May 2018
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PSYC104 Research Design Lecture
Week 2 – Introduction & Overview
Folk Psychology
• Ways of conceptualising mind and the mental that are implicit in ordinary, everyday attributions of
mental states to oneself and others
• Limitations
o Based on a small sample
o Limited to a short period of time
Scientist-practitioner model
• Aim is to instill the method and findings of the fundamental researcher in the practitioner of
psychological services
• Emphasis on thinking scientifically
• The first and most important step that anyone must take in understanding psychology is to realize that
its defining feature is that it is the data-based scientific study of behavior – Stanovich
Psychology as a science
• Science as a method by which psychology moves beyond opinion and folk psychology
Design
• Depends on the state of knowledge in the area – more developed areas have more refined design
• Must be rigorous, situationally appropriate, based in theory, feasible, redundant, and efficient
Statistics
• Chance – very large number or causes that cannot be easily/succinctly summarized
• Sample – subsets of the population of interest
• Predictability – assume some level of determinism in order to carry out investigations
• Error in measurement – inherent in the phenomena
• Statistical procedures are designed to enable psychologists to have a level of confidence
Inductivism
• Theory is developed from observations
• Observations are typically biased by the boundaries of the experiences of the observer
Overview of basic steps for both experimental and cross-sectional research
• Research question
• Generate hypotheses
• Operationalize (measurement what, how, who)
• Conduct the study
• Collate the data
• Analyse the data
• Draw appropriate conclusions
Research question
• Arises from the consideration of the phenomenon – the behaviour or processes of interest to the
researcher
• Another factor is the stage of theory development
o Early stage will generally have broader questions and explanations
o Advanced stage theory will generally generate very specific questions
Generate hypotheses
• Measureable
• Quantitative
• Specific as possible to be testable
• Both direction and size should be stated if at all possible
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Document Summary
Folk psychology: ways of conceptualising mind and the mental that are implicit in ordinary, everyday attributions of mental states to oneself and others, limitations, based on a small sample, limited to a short period of time. Psychology as a science: science as a method by which psychology moves beyond opinion and folk psychology. Design: depends on the state of knowledge in the area more developed areas have more refined design, must be rigorous, situationally appropriate, based in theory, feasible, redundant, and efficient. Inductivism: theory is developed from observations, observations are typically biased by the boundaries of the experiences of the observer. Overview of basic steps for both experimental and cross-sectional research: research question, generate hypotheses, operationalize (measurement what, how, who, conduct the study, collate the data, analyse the data, draw appropriate conclusions. Generate hypotheses: measureable, quantitative, specific as possible to be testable, both direction and size should be stated if at all possible.
