PSYC 2250 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Secondary Source, Meta-Analysis, Childhood Obesity
26 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
PSYC 2250 Introduction to Psychological Research
Chapter 2 Where to Start
Hypothesis and Predictions
To Start…
1. Hypothesis: a tentative statement about the relationship between 2 or more variables.
- E.g. “health and exercise are related”
- Research question: e.g. “are health and exercise related?”
2. Make specific prediction to test hypothesis based on data collected. E.g. “those who exercise
more will be healthier.”
3. Result
a) If result is consistent with hypothesis, we say that the hypothesis is “supported”.
* we never say “proven”. Proven takes many studies using different methods to increase
confidence in the conclusions.
b) If result is not consistent with the hypothesis, we either:
1. “reject” the hypothesis and/ or
2. Do more research using a different method
Hypothesis have scientific merit only if they are falsifiable
Sources of ideas
1. Questioning common assumptions
- E.g. “bird of a feather flock together” V.S. “ opposite attract”
- it can be valuable because such notions don’t always turn out to be correct,
- Or research may show that the real world is much more complicated than our assumptions.
2. Observing the world around us.
a) Can be a rich source of research ideas:
- E.g. “why is the Walking Dead so popular?”, “Why do people mistrust politicians?”
b) Serendipity: ideas/ insight/ discoveries made by accident or luck.
- E.g. classical conditioning
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
PSYC 2250 Introduction to Psychological Research
- “chance favors the prepared mind” LOL
- Prior knowledge + creativity + openness = a prepared mind
3. Practical problems
- A lot of applied research done
- E.g. childhood obesity, alcohol and drug addiction…..
4. Theories
- Consists of a system of logical ideas proposed to explain a particular phenomenon and its
relationship to other phenomena
- An organizing principles that tries to explain a large set of facts
- E.g. theory of evolution, theory of relativity, behavioral theory, cognitive theory,
developmental theory, social theory, learning theory and humanistic theory
- Theory serves 2 purpose:
a) Organize and explain a variety of specific facts or descriptions of behavior
b) Generate new knowledge by guiding research
5. Previews research
See what others have done…
- Can replicate, Apply to new settings/ new sample, different method
- Extend ideas; develop new theory, etc…
As become familiar with the research literature on a topic, you may see inconsistencies in
research results that need to be investigated
Some types of scientific journals:
- Those that publish review articles
- Those that publish “opinion” articles
- Those that publish empirical research
Anatom of an empirical research article
- Prior to publication, research is “ peer reviewed” to ensure errors are noticed and corrected
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
To start : hypothesis: a tentative statement about the relationship between 2 or more variables. Research question: e. g. are health and exercise related? : make specific prediction to test hypothesis based on data collected. Those who exercise more will be healthier. : result a) If result is consistent with hypothesis, we say that the hypothesis is supported . Proven takes many studies using different methods to increase confidence in the conclusions. b) If result is not consistent with the hypothesis, we either: Reject the hypothesis and/ or: do more research using a different method. Hypothesis have scientific merit only if they are falsifiable. Opposite attract it can be valuable because such notions don"t always turn out to be correct, Or research may show that the real world is much more complicated than our assumptions: observing the world around us, can be a rich source of research ideas:
