PSY10004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Random Assignment, Social Desirability Bias, Plethysmograph
PSYCH 101 - PSY10004
INTRODUCTION
Introduction!
Psychology is defined as the science of behaviour and mental processes.!
Objective =behaviour - something everyone can see and agree on!
Subjective = mental processes - subject of debate, room for error, open to interpretation!
Research Methods!
RESEARCH PROCESS
1. Define the Problem!
2. Review the Literature!
3. Formulate a Hypothesis!
A hypothesis is an explicit, testable prediction about the conditions under which an event
will occur.!
A specific prediction about how one variable relates to another!
•It must be specific!
•Must be able to test it!
4. Design the Research Study!
5. Collect and Analyse the Data!
6. Develop a Conclusion!
7. Share the Results!
VARIABLES
Conceptual Variables:!
•Typically thought of in abstract, general terms!
•We cannot test the abstract!
Operationalised Variables:!
•Specific procedure for manipulating or measuring a specific conceptual variable!
•Operationalising variables is key for replication!
TYPES OF DATA
Quantitative Data:!
•Numbers!
•Easier to analyse, but may miss important relationships!
Qualitative Data:!
•Words!
•Detailed information, but harder to analyse!
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Psychology is de ned as the science of behaviour and mental processes. Objective =behaviour - something everyone can see and agree on. Subjective = mental processes - subject of debate, room for error, open to interpretation. Research process: de ne the problem, review the literature, formulate a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an explicit, testable prediction about the conditions under which an event will occur. A speci c prediction about how one variable relates to another: it must be speci c, must be able to test it, design the research study, collect and analyse the data, develop a conclusion, share the results. Conceptual variables: typically thought of in abstract, general terms, we cannot test the abstract. Operationalised variables: speci c procedure for manipulating or measuring a speci c conceptual variable, operationalising variables is key for replication. Quantitative data: numbers, easier to analyse, but may miss important relationships. Qualitative data: words, detailed information, but harder to analyse.
