>>5 RESEARCH METHODS
>FORMING AND TESTING HYPOTHESES
- a theory is an integrated set of principles that explain and predict observed events - "scientific shorthand" - ideas that summarize and explain facts - guess --> theory --> fact
- a theory implies a testable prediction called a hypotheses
- allow us to test a theory by trying to falsify it
- give direction to research
- predictive feature makes them practical
- a good theory summarizes many observations and makes a clear prediction
>CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
- laboratory research controlled) vs field research (everyday situations)
- correlational (2 or more factors that are naturally associated) vs experimental (manipulating a factor to see its effect on another)
- correlational research deals with important variables but causes correlation errors - cause and effect
- correlations indicate a relationship but not a cause and effect - allow us to predict a result but not a cause and effect of changing a variable
- correlation causation
- correlation ranges from -1 to +1
>SURVEY RESEARCH
- aims to describe the whole population by taking a random, representative sample
- random means every person in the population has a chance of being selected
- 4 bias influences - unrepresentative samples, order of questions, response options, wording of questions
>EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
- looks for cause and effect by controlling independent variables
- 2 important ingredients - control and random assignment
- random assignment allows to conclude on cause and effect - it eliminates extraneous factors
>ETHICS
- mundane realism (like everyday behavior) vs experimental realism (must engage participants)
- deception a key element experimentation
- try to reduce demand characteristics

	Created by Brian Nichol over 11 years ago

Post Graduate Intro to Social Psychology Note on SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY READINGS, created by Brian Nichol on 12/08/2013.