Transcript The Starting Point: Asking Questions Graziano and Raulin Research Methods: Chapter 3 This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law.

The Starting Point:
Asking Questions
Graziano and Raulin
Research Methods: Chapter 3
This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by
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Asking Questions
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Research always starts with questions
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Sources of questions
(Fueled by the curiosity of the scientist)
– Personal interests and observations
– Theories and research of others
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
Most research is stimulated by other research
Theories and past research stimulate new research
– Seeking solutions to practical problems (applied
research)
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2010)
Refining Questions
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Initial questions may be vague
Vague questions can never be answered
Need to refine questions
– Defining the variables
– Specifying their expected relationship

Further refined into a “statement of the
problem” and then one or more “research
hypotheses” (covered in detail in Chapter 8)
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2010)
Types of Variables in
Research

Variables defined by their nature
– Behavioral variables
– Stimulus variables
– Organismic variables
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Variables defined by their use in Research
–
–
–
–
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Extraneous variable(s)
A constant
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Defined by their Nature

Behavioral variables
– Any behavioral response of the organism

Stimulus variables
– Any factor that affects, or could affect,
behavior

Organismic variables
– Any characteristic of a participant
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2010)
Defined by their Use in
Research

Independent variable
– Variable that is manipulated by the researcher

Dependent variable
– Variable that is expected to change as a result of
the independent variable manipulation

Extraneous variable
– Unplanned and uncontrolled factors

Constants
– Variables that are prevented from varying
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2010)
Validity and Control


Validity: How well a study, procedure, or
measure does what it is supposed to do
Enhance validity by controlling extraneous
variables
– They could affect the dependent measure if not
controlled
– This course is devoted to the procedures
required to control extraneous variables
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Research Ethics

Ethical guidelines for human research
– Focus on protecting the rights of participants
– Stimulated by the atrocities committed by Nazi
scientists

Ethical guidelines for animal research
– Focus on proper care and minimizing pain

Ethical committees are entrusted with
evaluating proposed projects
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2010)
Human Research Ethics
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Formal Ethical Codes
All research proposals must be approved by
an Institutional Review Board (IRB)
First safeguard is “informed consent”
The greater the potential risk to
participants, the greater the responsibility of
the researcher to protect participants
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Ethical Issues

Deception
– Should use only if non-deceptive methods would
not work
– Debriefing is required when deception is used

Invasion of Privacy
– Sensitive information must be protected

Informed Consent
– The participant elects to be in the study after he
or she is informed about the nature of the study
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Ethical Checks
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Will the study have informational value?
Does the study pose risks to participants?
If so, are there sufficient controls for those risks?
Is there a provision for informed consent?
Is there a provision for adequate feedback?
Do I accept full responsibility for the ethical
conduct of the study?
Has the proposal been approved by an IRB?
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2010)
Diversity Issues
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Age, sex, and ethnic status are likely to
affect behavior
Early research often failed to represent the
entire population
The federal government insists that funded
research represent
– Minority members
– Women
– Children
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Animal Research Ethics

Animals have rights, too
– Animals cannot give informed consent
– Animal research is often more invasive than
human research
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
Laboratory Animal Care committees review
animal research for ethical issues
Animal researchers must provide ethical and
humane care for their animals
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2010)
Summary

Research starts with questions
– Questions come from many sources
– Questions need to be refined


Questions involve the presumed
relationship between variables
Research ethics must be considered in
any research project
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2010)