PSYC 300 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-2: Hindsight Bias, Naturalistic Observation, Program Evaluation
8 Feb 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences Chapter 1
Behavioral Research
Goal is to discover how people perceive their world, think/feel/change, learn, and interact
Empirical – based in systematic collection and analysis of data
Data – information collected via observation/measurement
Biases influence our perceptions, and intuition alone is insufficient
o Hindsight bias – tendency to think we could’ve predicted something we probably
could not have
Scientific method
o Objective – free from personal bias or emotions
o Results in accumulation of scientific knowledge that can be replicated
o Values vs. facts
Values – personal beliefs, thoughts, or ideas
Facts – things that are objective and true
o Research report – presents scientific findings using a standardized written format
Basic research – answers fundamental questions about behavior
Applied research – investigates issues that have implications for everyday life and
provides solutions
o Program evaluation research – conducted to study the effectiveness of methods
designed for positive change
Importance of distinguishing good and bad research and its quality
Conduct and think critically about research
Research design – specific method a researcher uses to collect, analyze, and interpret data
Descriptive research – research designed to answer questions about a current state of
affairs
o Gives a “snapshot” of thoughts, feelings, or behavior
o Surveys and interviews
o Naturalistic observation
o Qualitative research – focused on observing/describing events as they occur
o Quantitative research – uses formal measurements of behavior (e.g.;
questionnaires), are subject to statistical analysis
o Correlational research – uses formal measurements of 2 or more relevant
variables and assessment of a relationship
Used to predict future events using past knowledge
Strengths – can be used to assess behavior as it occurs in people’s
everyday lives
Limitations – cannot identify causal relationships, possibility that
observed variables are not correlated and that a third variable is involved
o Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient ( r )
Ranges from -1.00 to +1.00
Scores far from 0 indicate a strong relationship
Document Summary
Research methods for the behavioral sciences chapter 1. Goal is to discover how people perceive their world, think/feel/change, learn, and interact. Empirical based in systematic collection and analysis of data. Biases influence our perceptions, and intuition alone is insufficient: hindsight bias tendency to think we could"ve predicted something we probably could not have. Scientific method: objective free from personal bias or emotions, results in accumulation of scientific knowledge that can be replicated, values vs. facts. Values personal beliefs, thoughts, or ideas. Facts things that are objective and true: research report presents scientific findings using a standardized written format. Basic research answers fundamental questions about behavior. Applied research investigates issues that have implications for everyday life and provides solutions: program evaluation research conducted to study the effectiveness of methods designed for positive change. Importance of distinguishing good and bad research and its quality. Research design specific method a researcher uses to collect, analyze, and interpret data.
