Psychology Notes: Research Methods & Correlations

Psychology is about understanding the mind and behavior. But how do we actually do that? We need a way to study these things scientifically, which means using research methods.

Think of research methods as the tools a scientist uses to gather information. These tools help us answer questions about why people think, feel, and behave the way they do.

Types of Research Methods:

-Descriptive Methods: These methods are like taking snapshots of behavior. They describe what's happening, but don't tell us why.

• Observational Studies: Watching people or animals in their natural environment. Think of a zoologist observing chimpanzees in the wild, or a researcher studying how people interact in a coffee shop.
• Surveys: Asking people questions through questionnaires or interviews. This is commonly used to gather opinions, beliefs, and experiences. Imagine a survey about voting preferences or attitudes towards social media.
• Case Studies: In-depth studies of a single person, group, or event. Imagine a psychologist studying a person with a unique memory ability or a sociologist looking at the impact of a major event on a community.

-Correlational Methods: These methods explore relationships between variables. They tell us if two things are linked, but not if one causes the other. Think of it like finding a connection, but not necessarily a direct reason.

• Correlation Coefficient: A number that tells us the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables. It ranges from -1 to +1, where 0 means no correlation, -1 means a perfect negative correlation, and +1 means a perfect positive correlation.
• Positive Correlation: As one variable increases, the other increases as well. Example: The more time spent studying, the higher the test score.
• Negative Correlation: As one variable increases, the other decreases. Example: The more hours spent watching TV, the lower the grades in school.

-Experimental Methods: These methods are about manipulating variables to see their effects. They aim to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

• Independent Variable: The variable that is changed or manipulated by the researcher.
• Dependent Variable: The variable that is measured to see if it's affected by the independent variable.
• Control Group: A group that doesn't receive the treatment or manipulation being studied, used for comparison.
• Experimental Group: The group that receives the treatment or manipulation being studied.

Correlation does not equal causation:

Just because two things are related doesn't mean one causes the other. There might be other factors involved.

Example: Ice cream sales and crime rates are positively correlated. Does this mean eating ice cream makes people commit crimes? No, it's probably because the hot weather increases the demand for ice cream and also leads to more people being out on the streets, increasing crime opportunities.

Key concepts in research:

• Reliability: Consistency of results. If a study is repeated, do we get similar findings?
• Validity: Accuracy of results. Does the study measure what it's supposed to measure?
• Ethics: Researchers must follow ethical guidelines to protect participant rights and well-being. This includes informed consent, confidentiality, and minimizing harm.

Real-world examples:

A researcher wants to study the effects of sleep deprivation on memory. They could design an experiment with two groups: one group gets a normal amount of sleep, and the other group is sleep-deprived. Then, they could test the groups' memory performance. This is an example of using an experimental method to establish cause-and-effect.

A psychologist wants to see if there's a relationship between social media use and self-esteem. They could use a survey to collect data on both variables and then calculate a correlation coefficient. This is an example of using a correlational method.

Remember: Research methods are essential for understanding human behavior. By using these tools, psychologists can gather evidence, test hypotheses, and contribute to our knowledge of the mind and behavior.