Block: ______. Research Methods. Research Methods. Log on to: http://faculty.
frostburg.edu/mbradley/phases.html. Click on: Theories. 1. What is a theory? 2.
Unit 2: Research Methods & Ethics Name: _________ Block: _________
Research Methods Log on to: http://faculty.frostburg.edu/mbradley/phases.html Click on: Theories 1. What is a theory? 2. What criteria is needed for a good theory? Explain. 3. What does parsimonious mean? Click on : Phases of Research 4. What are the seven phases of research? Explain each phase. Step One:
Step Two:
Step Three: o What is a hypothesis? Step Four: Before you Experiment: o What are the three main components that need to be decided when trying to conduct a research experiment? A) B) C) A. Operational Define Variables o How does this website define operational definition? o Why is it important to OD terms in an experiment? o What is a variable? o What is an independent variable? Give an example…. o What is a dependent variable? Give an example…. o Take the IV and DV Quiz. List the IV’s: List the DV’s: AP Psych 2010
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Unit 2: Research Methods & Ethics B: Type of Research Method: click on different methods and fill out the chart below. Type of Research Method
Definition/Description
Example
Pro’s
Con’s
-Which is the ONLY method to possibly predict cause and effect in variables? C. **Statistics: Although this website does not go into detail about Statistics we will further explore this issue later in the unit. See page ___ for more information on Stats. Step Five: Step Six: Step Seven:
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Unit 2: Research Methods & Ethics
Statistics Log onto: http://www.worthpublishers.com/exploring5e/content/psychsim5/launcher.html Click on: Descriptive Statistics 1. Define descriptive statistics.
2. What is a frequency histogram? Draw a picture.
3. What is a frequency polygon? Draw a picture.
4. A histogram and polygon both are types of what?
5. What does a skewed distribution mean in your results? Draw a picture.
6. What is a symmetrical distribution? Draw a picture.
7. Why is a symmetrical distribution chart considered to be normal?
8. What are the three measurements for central tendency? Fill out the chart below. Type of Measurement for Central Tendency….
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Definition
Reliability
Graph it!
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Unit 2: Research Methods & Ethics 9. What are the two common ways to measure variability? 10. Define range. 11. Define standard deviation. 12. Why can’t you simply add up the difference in scores and divide by the number of scores to find the standard deviation? What would happen? 13. What do you have to do accurately find the standard deviation? 14. Type in your name and email me your certificate of completion at
[email protected]. 15. You and your friends have just measured the heights of your dogs (in millimeters):
The heights (at the shoulders) are: 600mm, 470mm, 170mm, 430mm and 300mm. Find out the Mean, the Variance, and the Standard Deviation. Find the Mean: (simple average of the numbers) Find the Mode: Find the Median: Find the Variance: The Variance (which is the square of the standard deviation, ie: σ2) is defined as: The average of the squared differences from the Mean. In other words, follow these steps: 1. Work out the Mean. 2. Now, for each number subtract the Mean and then square the result (the squared difference). 3. Then work out the average of those squared differences.
Find the Standard Deviation:
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Unit 2: Research Methods & Ethics
Research Ethics and Controversial Studies Studies APA Ethical Guidelines The American Psychological Association (APA) has published ethical guidelines to follow when conducting psychological research with human subjects. Some important points from these guidelines include the following: 1.
Psychologists are responsible for the ethical conduct of research conducted by them or by others under their supervision.
2. Psychologists conduct research with due concern for the dignity and welfare of the participants. 3. Psychologists inform participants that they are free to participate or to decline to participate or to withdraw from the research at any time. 4. Psychologists inform participants of significant factors that may be expected to influence their willingness to participate. 5. Psychologists must obtain informed consent from research participants to filming or recording them. 6. Participants should be fully debriefed following any deception. 7. Psychologists inform research participants of their anticipated sharing or further use of personally identifiable research data. 8. Psychologists provide a prompt opportunity for participants to obtain appropriate information about the nature, results, and conclusions of the research. 9. Psychologists must honor all commitments made to research participants. 10. The APA also presents additional guidelines for the use and care of animals in research.
In your own words, write one sentence about what each of the guidelines means: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
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Unit 2: Research Methods & Ethics Milligram’s Experiments: • Log onto: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment • What are some ethical concerns with this study? • What historical connection does this study have to the past? • What were the results of the study (overview?) • Do you think this would happen today?
Stanford Prison Experiment: • Log on to: http://www.prisonexp.org/psychology/ 4 • Begin reading the experiment and watching the videos. • Answer the following questions: 1.
Was it ethical to do this study? Was it right to trade the suffering experienced by participants for the knowledge gained by the research? (The experimenters did not take this issue lightly, although the Slide Show may sound somewhat matter-of-fact about the events and experiences that occurred).
2.
How do the ethical dilemmas is this research compare with the ethical issues raised by Stanley Mailgram’s obedience experiments? Would it be better if these studies had never been done?
3.
If you were the experimenter in charge, would you have done this study? Would you have terminated it earlier? Would you have conducted a follow-up study?
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