CLP-4143 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Null Hypothesis, Informed Consent, Dependent And Independent Variables
CLP Chapter 4 notes: The Research Endeavor
Scientific Method
1) Hypothesis: testable statement of what we think will happen in our study.
a. Null hypothesis: no relationship between the phenomena we are
studying.
2) Choose a method and implement
a. Variable: factor or characteristic that can vary within an individual or
between individuals.
b. Independent variable: factor that affects the dependent variable.
c. Dependent variable: factor that we are trying to predict in our study.
d. Operationalization: the way we measure or manipulate the variables in
the study.
Ethical issues:
1) Understanding the study: participants knowing what they are participating in.
2) Confidentiality: participant’s identity and other info gathered are held in strict
confidence.
3) Right to refuse or withdraw: right for participant to refuse or withdraw from the
study once it has begun without any negative consequences.
4) Informed consent: participant’s consent to participate in writing.
5) Deception: researchers not using deception in studies unless it is essential and
justified.
6) Debriefing: explaining the purpose of the study to the participant at the end of the
study.
Case Studies: detailed histories of individuals who have some form of psychological
disorder.
a. Advantages: can study rare problems or find out a lot of information about a
specific issue. Also help generate new ideas.
b. Disadvantages: lacks generalizability. Can be biased.
Correlational studies: examine the relationship between an independent variable and
dependent variable w/o manipulating either variable. There are 2 types:
1. Continuous variable:measured along a continuum.
2. Group comparison study: special interest between people’s membership in a
specific group and their scores on some other variable. ‘
• They can either be cross-sectional (observing people one point at a time) or
longitudinal (observing people on 2 or more occasions over time).
• Advantages of longitudinal: can determine differnces between the 2 groups
before the event of interest.
• Disadvantages: expensive and time consuming.
• Measuring variables relationship….
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Document Summary
Case studies: detailed histories of individuals who have some form of psychological disorder: advantages: can study rare problems or find out a lot of information about a specific issue. Also help generate new ideas: disadvantages: lacks generalizability. Correlational studies: examine the relationship between an independent variable and dependent variable w/o manipulating either variable. Correlation coefficient: a statistic used to represent the relationship between variables, usually denoted by the symbol r. Positive, negative, zero: statistical significance: an index of how likely it is that the result occurred simply by chance. Experimental studies: attempt to control the independent variable and any potentially problematic third variables rather than simply observing them as they occur naturally: human laboratory studies. Ensure study has internal validity: changes in the dependent variable can confidently be attributed to our manipulation of the independent variable and not to other factors. Control third variable with control group: control condition. Put participants into these 2 groups by random assignment.
