CAS PS 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Naturalistic Observation, Central Tendency, Intelligence Quotient

• School: Boston University
• Department: Psychological & Brain Sciences
• Course: CAS PS 101
• Professor: Martha Tompson

Document Summary

Observing a subject in their natural habitat. Advantage: researcher may see how one behaves normally. Disadvantage: the subject may not behave normally knowing they"re being watched. Conducting a study on a certain subject or group. Advantage: researcher can learn in depth about the subject. Gets people to answer a group of questions. Disadvantage: surveys are surface-based, not too in-depth, there can be a varying response rate, and there can be narrow representation. Looks at the relationship between two things (how one thing affects another) Disadvantage: can"t determine causation or direction of causation. Disadvantage: many things can"t be studied experimentally (ex. the influence of childhood abuse on lives) The best kind of study depends on both the question and circumstances. Population: the entire group you want to study. Sample: random, stratified filtered group (ex. I want 100 men and 100 women with diabetes ) The idea we"re interested in (ex. depression or aggression)