Identifying problems and forming hypotheses

1
Identifying problems and forming hypotheses

• Where did you get that idea?

2
Sources of ideas

• Everyday life
• Practical issues
• Past research
• Theory

3
Sources of ideas

• Everyday life
• Subliminal messages--Vokey and Read, 1985
• Bystander intervention--Darley and Latane, 1968
• The O. J. Simpson trials

4
Sources of ideas

• Everyday life
• Practical issues
• Past research
• Theory

5
Sources of ideas

• Practical issues
• How can I study more effectively?
• How can I make a better first impression?
• How can I change my eating habits?
• When are people most likely to accept an
  invitation?
• What does mood do to memory?
• What does coffee do to sleepiness?

6
Sources of ideas

• Everyday life
• Practical issues
• Past research
• Theory

7
Sources of ideas

• Past research
• Correction
• Concatenation
• Theory
• Gender bias
• Discernment
• Are questions of values beyond science?
• What about questions of religion?

8
The next steps

• Review the literature
• Books, journals, and indexes
• Electronic media
• Conferences
• e-mail
• Assess the feasibility of the study
• Formulate the research problem
• Formulate hypotheses