Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology for High School Students

HAYDEN JACKSON IBHL PSYCHOLOGY AUGUST 18, 2013

A little about the author

Jennie Brooks Jamison Masters degree in education IB teacher

St. Petersburg High School, Florida Has been teaching IB psychology since 1986

Leads workshops for psychology

Examiner for both internal and external assessments

Published several texts Lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with husband and 3 cats

How Jamison approaches teaching in this book

I am convinced that my teaching is useful to students only if it accomplishes two goals. Students must understand the material at its deepest level and should be able to apply information learned in class to their own lives. Problem solving is the best way to be engaged in the discovery process

Students understand problem solving

When you memorize, you forget

But when you understand, you dont forget.

Why did she write this book?

Students come in to her class knowing so little about psychology

They get all they know from common wisdom, stereotypes, or anecdotes

They know even less about psychological research

First, she wants you to understand how and why psychologists create knowledge Second, if you want to understand why people behave as they do, you have to read psychological research and interpret it correctly

Learning by doing

The best way for students to understand methodology is to actually conduct research Research design is too abstract for beginners

If youre conducting research, you can see the problems as they unfold
Resolving these problems presents a valuable challenge This book takes you through the process of designing nonexperimental research, and a simple experiment.

How you study something is important

Acceptance of psychological theory is entirely dependent on how it is studied All current theory has to have triangulated research

It has to be repeatable

Research that cannot be repeated is not acceptable!

Triangulation

Withhold judgment until you know if a theory has triangulation A way to make sure there is enough evidence to make valid claims Shows the richness and complexity of behavior by studying theories from more than one standpoint Defined as the use of two or more methods of data collection in the study of some aspect of human behavior Some other examples of triangulation?

Methodological triangulation

Theory is investigated using a variety of experimental and nonexperimental methods Some examples of theories without methodological triangulation

Freud, Skinner, Piaget

Freud generalized his findings from case studies of Victorian females with mental disorders

Applied his findings to all people

Skinner generalized about human behavior based on simple animal experiments Piaget observed his 3 children and came up with a general cognitive development theory

Time triangulation

Ensures time frame is not the reason for research results

Example: gun control legislation survey right after a school shooting Cross sectional tries to control bias by collecting at one time Longitudinal tries to eliminate bias by collecting over time

Should be cross sectional or longitudinal

Observer (investigator) triangulation

Different researchers studying a topic independently should get the same results This is a basic principle of science

Theory triangulation

Two or more theories combining to make a more comprehensive theory Example: General Aggression Model (GAM) combines social learning theory with other theories to create a more complex and realistic portrayal of aggression

Space triangulation

If a theory is studied in only one culture it lacks space triangulation Culture is an important variable However, you can make claims about a specific culture and not need space triangulation

For example, EE on piracy in the United States No obligation to study other cultures, the bias is admitted in the subject

Combined levels of triangulation

Three levels

Individual Interactive level of the group Larger collective or organizational level (society)

Theories with the most triangulation conduct research at all 3 levels

Advantages of triangulation

Reduces experimenter bias Gives a broader and complex causation model of behavior Reduces method-bound theories

Theories based on an incorrect method

Reduces culture-bound theories

Experimental and nonexperimental research

Triangulation applies to both of the types

Experimental research

Important in verifying theories The only type of research showing cause and effect However

Theyre artificial Dont give a full picture of what it means to be a human living in a social world They deliver idealized research

Non-experimental research

Cannot show cause Not conducted in controlled laboratory settings Valuable

Validates the results of experimental research Provides hypotheses for future research Part of the triangulation process Non experimental research may be the only way to ethically gather information

Twin studies

Each methodology serves its own purpose and is useful for a different type of research

Thanks for listening.