ITS ABOUT THE Psychological Science and Research Methods involve in psychology.

1. Psychological Science and Research Methods

2. Purpose of psychological research Psychology is a “soft science” and “social science” – humans are not predictable or reliable (individual differences) Psychologists do research to: Study development and environmental factors and the role they play in individuals' mental health. Study people with specific psychological disorders, symptoms, or characteristics. Develop tests to measure specific psychological phenomenon. Develop treatment approaches to improve individuals' mental health Basic and applied research

3. Goals of psychological research Describe (objectivity) Understand (why?) Predict (the past predicts the future) Control (manipulation/intervention) Improve Compare

4. How do we do research? Inductive Reasoning  Deductive Reasoning (bottom-up)(top-down)

5. Scientific method Observation : identify Hypothesis Design Results Conclusion Communication CYCLICAL PROCESS

6. Scientific method contd. A theory is a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations A hypothesis is a specific prediction or tentative explanation Null hypothesis Alternative hypothesis Experiments are designed to test and disprove hypotheses and theories and advance knowledge and understanding.

9. Features of Experimental Design Temporal precedence of IV : IV must come before the DV Establishment of cause-and-effect relationship No plausible alternative explanations (third variable problem) Random assignment If any one of these is not present, the study becomes a quasi-experiment.

10. Threats/Biases in Experimental Research Sampling bias/Selection bias – affects reliability and validity Placebo effect – influencing of performance due to the subject’s belief about the results Experimenter bias Social desirability bias Hawthorne effect Type I error Type II error

13. Countering biases in experimental design Random sampling Random assignment to groups and equal treatment of groups Controlled settings Single-blind Double-blind Deception Multiple observers

14. Evaluating experimental research Advantages: Scientific Standardized and controlled Causal relationships Replicable High internal validity Limitations: Artificiality Demand characteristics and evaluation apprehension Low external validity

15. Issues to consider Reliability - replicability Validity – generalizability Internal/experimental validity vs. External/ecological validity Experimental realism vs. mundane realism Ethical issues