Research ProcessResearch Process

Scientific Method, Types of Scientific Method, Types of Experiments and Data ProcessingExperiments and Data Processing

Scientific MethodScientific Method Steps used to gather information through careful Steps used to gather information through careful

observation and the use of experiments. observation and the use of experiments. There are 4 steps:There are 4 steps:

Developing a research questionDeveloping a research question Based on previous experience. Based on previous experience. ““Does stress increase the likely hood of Does stress increase the likely hood of

catching a cold?catching a cold?”” Creating a Creating a hypothesishypothesis – a theoretical answer to the research – a theoretical answer to the research

question.question. Not a definite factNot a definite fact People who experience lots of stress are more likely to catch a cold.People who experience lots of stress are more likely to catch a cold.

Gathering evidence to test the hypothesisGathering evidence to test the hypothesis Performing an experiment to test hypothesisPerforming an experiment to test hypothesis Comparing how often people with stressful lives catch colds to those Comparing how often people with stressful lives catch colds to those

who donwho don’’t experience much stresst experience much stress Drawing conclusions about the hypothesisDrawing conclusions about the hypothesis

Using Using statisticsstatistics to analyze whether the data supports the hypothesis to analyze whether the data supports the hypothesis Is there a pattern to the observations?Is there a pattern to the observations? The more data there is, the more complicated it is to look for a pattern.The more data there is, the more complicated it is to look for a pattern.

Scientific Method ImageScientific Method Image

Why is it important to Why is it important to replicate a study? replicate a study?

Replicate – recreate or repeat a studyReplicate – recreate or repeat a study In order to prove the findings of a study, it must In order to prove the findings of a study, it must

be replicated to see if it gets the same resultsbe replicated to see if it gets the same results They donThey don’’t have to do the EXACT same experimentt have to do the EXACT same experiment Different participantsDifferent participants If involves people, they will try to vary them by If involves people, they will try to vary them by

gender, ethnicity, social standing, religion etc. gender, ethnicity, social standing, religion etc.

Proved hypothesizes usually result in more Proved hypothesizes usually result in more questions.questions.

Types of ExperimentsTypes of Experiments Case StudyCase Study – in depth study of one or more individuals – in depth study of one or more individuals

Based of off interviews, observation, & written recordBased of off interviews, observation, & written record Provides insight into specific casesProvides insight into specific cases Can be faulty at times – focus on isolated situations, faulty informationCan be faulty at times – focus on isolated situations, faulty information

SurveySurvey Method – gather information from target groups by using Method – gather information from target groups by using interviews or questionnaires. interviews or questionnaires. Focus on specific groups (Focus on specific groups (randomrandom samplesample) such as children, ) such as children,

athletes, fatherathletes, father’’s of toddlers etc. s of toddlers etc. Random samples are people chosen at random from a larger group Random samples are people chosen at random from a larger group

Can be skewed or faulty if sampleCan be skewed or faulty if sample’’s memory is not accurate s memory is not accurate Naturalistic ObservationNaturalistic Observation – researchers observe the behavior of – researchers observe the behavior of

people or animals in their natural environmentpeople or animals in their natural environment Usually without the subjects knowledgeUsually without the subjects knowledge Researchers have no control over observation or environmentResearchers have no control over observation or environment Bias occurs if observer makes a decision about the subject before the Bias occurs if observer makes a decision about the subject before the

observation really beginsobservation really begins Prevent bias by having 2 observersPrevent bias by having 2 observers

Types of ExperimentsTypes of Experiments

PlaceboPlacebo – – ““sugar pillsugar pill”” used in drug studies used in drug studies Placebo effect – positive result comes from a Placebo effect – positive result comes from a

person expecting a good outcome, rather than the person expecting a good outcome, rather than the medicinal properties of the pill. medicinal properties of the pill.

Single-blind studySingle-blind study – subjects in a study are – subjects in a study are kept from knowing whether they are taking the kept from knowing whether they are taking the placebo or not (placebo or not (““blindedblinded””).).

Double-blind studyDouble-blind study – both the experimenter – both the experimenter and the subject are and the subject are ““blindedblinded”” Prevents experimentersPrevents experimenters’’ bias from impacting study bias from impacting study

Types of ExperimentsTypes of Experiments

Cross-sectional studyCross-sectional study – entire – entire population is observed for a specific population is observed for a specific phenomena for a specific amount of timephenomena for a specific amount of time For example, for 5 months women with For example, for 5 months women with

breast cancer are studied. All ages, breast cancer are studied. All ages, ethnicities, backgrounds etc.ethnicities, backgrounds etc. If a high number with a specific background have If a high number with a specific background have

it, they will do a more up close studyit, they will do a more up close study

Data ProcessingData Processing StatisticsStatistics – study of the – study of the

interpretation, collection and interpretation, collection and organization of data.organization of data.

CorrelationCorrelation – a relationship – a relationship between two variablesbetween two variables Positive – variables increase Positive – variables increase

togethertogether For example, the taller men For example, the taller men

are, the more confident they are, the more confident they are. are.

Negative – variables Negative – variables decrease togetherdecrease together

For example, the more For example, the more unattractive people are, the unattractive people are, the less confident they areless confident they are

ErraticErratic – no pattern – no pattern Data can not be followed Data can not be followed

Standard deviationStandard deviation – tells – tells how close sample data is to how close sample data is to the average.the average. Small deviation is when the Small deviation is when the

data is close to the average. data is close to the average. Large deviation is when the Large deviation is when the data is far from the average. data is far from the average.

Frequency distributionFrequency distribution – the – the number of observations of a number of observations of a behavior within a given behavior within a given interval. interval. How often does the monkey How often does the monkey

groom his mate in a 10 groom his mate in a 10 minute period.minute period.

Stratified samplingsStratified samplings – – researcher divides population researcher divides population into various subgroups, the into various subgroups, the chooses randomly from that chooses randomly from that group. group.

In Class Experiment:In Class Experiment: Can you really taste the difference between Coca-Cola, Can you really taste the difference between Coca-Cola,

Diet Coke, and Coke Zero?Diet Coke, and Coke Zero? Hypothesis: Yes, the average person can taste the Hypothesis: Yes, the average person can taste the

difference between the three sodas.difference between the three sodas. Experiment: Blindfolded participants will be given Experiment: Blindfolded participants will be given

samples of each drink in labeled cups. samples of each drink in labeled cups. No cups will be distributed until all participants are blind folded.No cups will be distributed until all participants are blind folded. An experimenter and assistant will take turns recording the An experimenter and assistant will take turns recording the

participants attempts to identify the drinks. participants attempts to identify the drinks. Example: Participant 1 thought Cup A: is Coke Zero.Example: Participant 1 thought Cup A: is Coke Zero.

They will also make sure no soda is spilt all over my floor. They will also make sure no soda is spilt all over my floor. Once all the data has been collected, text your findings to the Once all the data has been collected, text your findings to the

number posted on our class wiki. number posted on our class wiki. We will compare our data on the class website. We will compare our data on the class website.

Results:Results:

Did our findings support our hypothesis?Did our findings support our hypothesis? What questions does this answer give What questions does this answer give

us?us? Do you think if we changed the Do you think if we changed the

demographics of the study, the results demographics of the study, the results would be different?would be different?

Were there any weaknesses in the Were there any weaknesses in the experiment?experiment?

Placebo Effect VideoPlacebo Effect Video

How was the placebo effect an important How was the placebo effect an important part of this study?part of this study?

Was it harmful to the participants for a Was it harmful to the participants for a placebo to be used in this experiment?placebo to be used in this experiment?