Psych 1X03 C01 Professor Kim & Professor Cheal 05/02/12

Module 1: Intro to Scientific Research

How to design an experiment The Scientific Method - Psychologists collect data to test hypotheses to help understand human thought & behaviour 7 step scientific method on how to collect/analyze info & minimize bias, conflicts or oversights 1. Construct a theory General set of ideas about the way the world works Studying existing information about the world (previously published work) 2. Generate hypothesis Specific predictions about the relationship between variables 3. Choose research method How hypothesis will be tested 4. Collect data Measurements of outcomes of test; may not be in line with hypothesis 5. Analyze data Noting trends/relationships 6. Report the findings Publish articles in scholarly journals 7. Revise existing theories Include new info in our understanding of the world Paradigm shift: dramatic change in our way of thinking Case Study Test performance can be affected by external factors that occur while studying for the test Eric bought Mega-Study energy drink to help his study; heard it was memory enhancing & could help him focus Also has ShamWow energy drink Reasons that it does come with a money-back guarantee

Module 2: Conducting an Experiment

Testing a Hypothesis General Theory: Test performance can be affected by external factors Testable Prediction: Students taking energy drink should show improved test performance when compared with students not drinking energy drinks Anecdotal evidence: evidence gathered from others or self experience o Story about similar energy drink & aced exam o Self experience: if he aces his own exam, drink wouldve worked Problems with testing energy drink on one occasion 1. Single experience is not a representative of general result 2. Personal experience may not be same as others under same circumstances
1 of 4

Psych 1X03 C01 Professor Kim & Professor Cheal 05/02/12

3. Test could have been easy, or hard different variable Using an Experiment Experiment: measure effect of one variable on another variable Independent Variable: variable manipulated by scientist Dependent Variable: variable being observed by scientist o Biologist add or remove enzyme to cell culture Independent variable = amount of enzyme Dependent variable = amount of cell growth o Kinesiologist Independent variable = amount of exercise of individual Dependent variable = muscle growth Eric = not true experiment o Must manipulate independent variable (energy drink consumption) while measuring result on dependent variable (test) Compare exams written with Mega-Study & exams written without it

Module 3: Control Groups

Eric takes test with energy drink & asks roommate to take same test without energy drink o Manipulating independent variable while measure effects on dependent variable o STILL not good enough, Eric can be smarter than his roommate

Using Control Groups 2 groups of participants in experiment: Experimental group is given treatment Control group is NOT given treatment o Dependent variable is then compared for both groups o As similar as possible Participants in experimental and control groups should be as similar as possible o If there is a difference in dependent variable, the manipulation of independent is most likely the cause Case Study Find student who performs at same level, same study techniques, same classes Within-Subjects Experimental Design Tests same subject repeatedly while independent variable is manipulated o Eric takes many tests throughout semester some with energy drinks, some without Eric would be his own control group Minimizes effect of subject differences on dependent measure Problems with within-subjects design o Time consuming & costly repeated testing o Practice Effect: improved performance over course of experiment due to becoming more experienced reduce control of experiment
2 of 4

Psych 1X03 C01 Professor Kim & Professor Cheal 05/02/12

Difficult to separate natural improvement from effect of manipulating independent variable

Between Subjects Design One group of participants get experimental manipulation One group acts as control group Confounding Variable: difference between participants other than the independent variable o variable other than independent variable that has effect on results Module 4: Sampling Eric uses between-subjects experimental design o Knows it would be hard to control test difficulty and prevent practice effects using a within-subject design He compares 20 students who write test with energy drink with 20 students who write test without energy drink Selects participants carefully to eliminate confounding variables that might influence results

Selecting participants Eric chooses Dutch, blonde, female, with avg of 93% o Difficult to find this selection of participants o Limiting scope of conclusions results only specified for this group Population: general group of people we are trying to learn about Sample: selected members of population we collect data from Random Sample: sample chosen at random from entire population o Best technique to chose participants for experiment reduces bias Random Assortment: assigning participants to either experimental or control group at random to avoid biases causing differences between groups of participants o Drawing names from a hat

Module 5: Conducting an Experiment

40 students assigned randomly to experimental and control groups all writing same test

Participant Biases Placebo Effect: individual exhibits response to treatment that has no related therapeutic effect o Form of participant bias: participants with energy drinks may be more motivated because they want drink to be effective

3 of 4

Psych 1X03 C01 Professor Kim & Professor Cheal 05/02/12

o Can be countered by giving control group a mock treatment give all participants drink, experimental group gets Mega Study energy drink and control group gets base-line effect drink (coloured water): both taste similar Both influenced by placebo equally placebo is not confounding factor Participant Bias: participants actions in experiment influence result outside manipulations of experimenter o Subjects unconsciously change because they are knowingly being studied Blinding: When participants dont know if they belong to the experimental or control group OR which treatment they are receiving

Experimenter Biases Experimenter Bias: actions made by experimenter, deliberate or unintentional, to promote result they hope to achieve o Unintentionally spend more time encouraging experimental group to study for test to find strong effect of drink o Can be countered if experimenter does not know which individual belongs to the experimental or control group Double-Blind Studies: experiments where neither the participant nor the experimenter know which group each participant belongs to Case Study Theory - Effects of external factors during studying on test performance Hypothesis - Used theory to create testable hypothesis Study Method - Chosen by considering factors like control groups and bias using between-participants, double blind experiment to test hypothesis Collect Data - Experimental and control group write tests to collect data

DESCRIBED IN THE NEXT MODULE Analyze Data Report Findings Revise Theories

4 of 4