RESEARCH METHODS

1
RESEARCH METHODS

• Reminder
• Topics Due Wednesday

2
THEORY

• Explanations
• Connect organize data
• Framework for future research
• Coherent story

3
CONSTRUCT

• An abstract idea.
• Examples
• Justice
• Humor
• Love

4
OPERATIONALIZATION

• Construct?Concrete terms
• Multiple possibilities
• CONSTRUCT VALIDITY

5
Where to conduct the research?

• The Field
• Real world setting.
• ADVANTAGE Realism.
• DISADVANTAGE Lack of control.

6
Where to conduct the research?

• The Laboratory
• The essence of a real situation in a controlled
  environment.
• ADVANTAGE You control the environment.
• DISADVANTAGE Do the results generalize?

7
EXTERNAL VALIDITY

• Do the results obtained in the study generalize
  to other contexts?
• Demand Characteristics

8
OBSERVATIONAL METHOD

• Observe and describe

9
CORRELATIONAL VS. EXPERIMENTAL

• Correlational research examines naturally
  occurring relationships
• ADVANTAGE Realism.
• DISADVANTAGE Limited conclusions.

10
CORRELATIONAL VS. EXPERIMENTAL

• CORRELATION ? CAUSATION!!!
• 3 possible explanations
• X causes Y.
• Y causes X.
• X and Y are both caused by a third variable.

11
DEFINING FEATURES OF AN EXPERIMENT

• Controlled conditions
• Independent variable
• Dependent variable
• Random Assignment