PSYC 273 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Observer-Expectancy Effect, Natural Environment, Informed Consent
Ch.2 Research Strategies
Why learn about Research Strategies?
Helps to separate dependable from misleading information
Build bridges between research and practice
Methods of Data Collection
Interview
Observation
Neurobiological Measures
Case study
Interview
Clinical
Flexible interview; share thoughts
Pro: more natural, flexible
Con: inaccuracies; difficult to compare
Structured
Interview/survey; questions identical
Pro: standardized, easy comparison
Con: inaccuracies; lack of depth
Observation
Naturalistic
Natural environment
Pro: everyday behavior
Con: Lack control; observer bias
can’t control types of interactions in between kids
Structured
Lab setting
Pro: see hard to observe behaviors; equal treatment
Con: atypical behavior; observer bias
Issues
Observer bias: effect of study’s purpose on observer
Blind observation
know what we are looking for
Observation influence: effect of observer influence: effect of observer on
participants behavior
know that you are being watched
Neurobiological Measures
Analyze relationship between nervous system processes and behavior
help make inferences about the people around us
Measures of Brain Functioning
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Measure electric activity on the scalp produced by brain
Examine brain activity over short (ERP) or long periods
Sade for all ages
Event- related potential (ERPs)
have an event: interested in looking at brain activity for a specific event
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
MRI: produce 3D images of the brain
Appropriate for all ages
fMRI: detects changes in blood flow and oxygen due to neural activity
Not appropriate for young infants
looking how out brain activity is changing over time, such as blood flow
and oxygen
can tell where the activity is occurring in the brain
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)
infrared light measures blood flow and oxygenation
safe for all ages
shining red light into head= octopus snd sensors and measures blood flow and
oxygenation
similar to an fMRI
safe for even really young infants
however, still can only look an first couple of cm
Case Study
Detailed study of one individual
Utilize interviews, observations, test scores, etc
complete picture of functioning
one person
study when person is highly unique: head trauma, protégées, genetic disorder
General Research Designs
Correlational design
Experimental design
Correlations
examine the relationship between variables
Does not mean that one variable causes change in the other
Correlation coefficient
Magnitude
ranges from zero to one
zero= absolutely no relationship
one= positive correlation—> lots of time studying= lots of high
grades
Document Summary
Con: lack control; observer bias can"t control types of interactions in between kids. Pro: see hard to observe behaviors; equal treatment. Observer bias: e ect of study"s purpose on observer. Blind observation know what we are looking for. Observation in uence: e ect of observer in uence: e ect of observer on participants behavior know that you are being watched. Analyze relationship between nervous system processes and behavior help make inferences about the people around us. Measure electric activity on the scalp produced by brain. Examine brain activity over short (erp) or long periods. Event- related potential (erps) have an event: interested in looking at brain activity for a speci c event. Appropriate for all ages fmri: detects changes in blood ow and oxygen due to neural activity. Not appropriate for young infants looking how out brain activity is changing over time, such as blood ow and oxygen can tell where the activity is occurring in the brain.
