Lecture #2

Research Methods

Music:

“Logical”

Supertramp

“Science is Real”

They Might be Giants

Today’s Agenda 1. Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology (p. 11)

Application to the phenomenon of depression 2. Research Methods (Ch. 2):

a) Descriptive/Correlation Research b) Experimental Research

3. Improving Academic Performance (Ch. 1) a) Time management b) Study skills

4. Quiz Questions

1. Theoretical Perspectives (Table 1.2, p. 13)

1) Biological: How physiology affects thoughts and behavior

2) Cognitive: How your mind (conscious thoughts) influence behavior

3) Psychodynamic: How the unconscious influences behavior

4) Behavioral: How the environment shapes behavior

5) Humanistic: Freedom of choice and actualization of the self as determinants

of behavior

1. Theoretical Perspectives(cont’d)

6) Evolutionary: How the behavior initially solved an adaptive

problem and increased chance of reproductive success

1. Application to Depression 1) Biological Vulnerability:

Genetic vulnerability Neurochemical imbalance in the brain

2) Cognitive Vulnerability: Self-blame (attribution bias) Dysfunctional beliefs

3) Psychoanalytic View: Overly harsh superego Unresolved grief over early loss Anger turned inward

1. Theoretical Perspectives on Depression (cont’d)

4) Humanistic View: Loss of meaning and purpose Failure to actualize yourself

5) Behavioral View: Lowered social support Loss of rewards

6) Evolutionary View: Involuntary subordination is adaptive and promotes

survival (e.g. prevents pursuit of unrealistic goals)

2. Research Methods a) Descriptive/Correlational

Research Designs:

Case studies: Good for rare phenomena, or when other methods can’t be used

Surveys Validity issues: Wording (e.g. public poll) sampling biases (e.g. Hite report) social desirability (e.g. beer consumption)

Correlational (r) Describes the strength of the relationship between 2 variables (r= -1.0 to +1.0) Correlations enable prediction but say nothing about causation

2. a) Correlational data

2.a) Correlations Third variable can account for a relationship

2. b) Experimental Studies

Most powerful method to detect cause and effect relationships Components:

Independent Variable (“X”): What is manipulated; the “cause” or explanation for something

Dependent Variable (“Y”) The outcome (the something) affected by the manipulation How does “X” affect “Y”?

Control Group: No manipulation, otherwise treated the same. Differences between control and experimental groups allow

conclusions about the effect of “X” on “Y.”

3. Improving Your Academic Performance (Personal Application Chapter 1)

a) Time Management Skills: See Figures 1.9 & 1.10 Written schedule with study blocks Prioritize your goals

Break down difficult tasks into small steps Do the hardest task during your “best time”

Note: Distributed learning is more effective than massed learning Reward Yourself!

After, not before b) Study Skills

Study Area: “Stimulus-response” theory Combat distractions!

3. b) Study Skills (cont’d) Reading:

SQ3R method: Survey Question Read Recite Review

Summary: For success in university: 1) Attend your lectures 2) Timing is everything 3) Practice makes perfect

4. Quiz Questions: (breathe in…. and out….) Consider the following research methods:

1) experiment 2) case study 3) naturalistic observation 4) survey 5) correlational study

What would be the most appropriate research method for the following research questions:

a) Obesity is associated with diabetes b) The number of assaults increase during heat waves c) Watching violent television leads to violence in children d) Psychotherapy improves mental health

4. Quiz Questions (cont’d) 2) Which correlation coefficient would

reflect the weakest relationship between 2 variables? a) .83 b) -1 c) .19 d) -.07 e) can’t tell based on the numerical value

See you next week!