🗓 Unit 2 - Research Methods

Summary

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the value of experimental design (i.e., controlled comparisons) in justifying cause-effect relationships
• Define and explain the purpose of key research concepts that characterize psychological research (e.g., hypothesis, operational definition)
• Describe the fundamental principles of research design
• Identify obvious violations of ethical standards in psychological contexts

Prepare for Today

Readings

• 2.1 Why is Research Important?
• 2.2 Approaches to Research
• 2.3 Analyzing Findings
• 2.4 Ethics

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Lecture Slides

How is the scientific method used in psychological research?

• Scientific methods are used in psychological research to describe, predict, control, and explain thinking and behavior
• The scientific method is cyclical and uses systematically collected data to test falsifiable theories and accepts the most simple answer
• Participants need to be carefully selected and randomly assigned to manipulated conditions of the independent variable to interpret causal relationships

Today’s Assignment

Can Science Answer this Question?

• Read: Review the instructions.
• Practice: Download the empirical questions worksheet and answer the questions using what you learned in the reading and lecture.
• Submit: Go to Canvas and 1) upload your worksheet to the Unit 2 Activity and 2) post on your Tribe discussion board.