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Research Methods Notes
Research Methods In Psychology (PSYC 2140)
Auburn University
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Research Methods
Week 1 – Module 1
Getting Started
Terms and Definitions
Abstract: Short summary of a research study typically found at the beginning of a journal article.
Applied research: Research designed to solve a practical problem.
Basic research: Research designed to expand the body of knowledge on a topic.
Deterministic: All natural, social, and psychological phenomena are causally determined by preceding events or natural laws.
Empirical: Science is based on objective, reproducible evidence and not on pure reason, emotion, or subjective experiences.
Falsifiable: A theory or hypothesis is not scientific unless it can be proven false.
Hypothesis: A specific, testable prediction.
Literature review: The process of investigating existing research related to a topic of interest.
Provisional: All scientific knowledge is open to further testing and revision.
Pseudoscience: Non-scientific claims that may sound scientific but fail to meet key criteria of scientific research.
Research: The process of collecting information to answer a specific question using the scientific method.
Scientific method: The process of observing a phenomenon, asking a question; determining what is already known about that question, constructing a hypothesis, collecting data, analyzing data, interpreting data and reporting results, revising a theory and circling back to ask a new question or create a new hypothesis.
Theory: A related group of empirical findings that help explain a specific phenomenon.
3. Integrity focuses on the importance of accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the work of psychologists 4. Justice recognizes issues of fairness of access and benefits 5. Respect for People’s Rights Dignity emphasizes respect, dignity, and worth of individuals, independent of their differences, guaranteeing privacy and confidentiality
APA Ethical Standards 1. Resolving Ethical Issues 2. Competence 3. Human Relations* 4. Privacy and Confidentiality* 5. Advertising and Other Public Statements 6. Record Keeping and Fees 7. Education and Training 8. Research and Publication* 9. Assessment 10. Therapy
Privacy and confidentiality The practice of not disclosing personal or identifying information about a participant beyond what is necessary for carrying out the study. Guaranteeing confidentiality of participants’ information builds trust between researchers and their participants.
Right to withdraw: Even after individuals voluntarily agree to participate in a research project, they may change their minds and opt out of the project at any point with no negative consequences.
Informed consent: The process of providing individuals enough information about their participation in a particular research study prior to the beginning of that study in order to allow them to make a voluntary choice to participate.
Deception and debriefing: In some cases, the information initially provided to participants is incomplete or inaccurate. In other words, researchers sometimes deceive their participants in order to prevent those participants from knowing the true purpose of the study. However, by the end of the study researchers provide participants correct information during the debriefing.
Institutional review boards (IRBs): Research should be reviewed by independent groups to ensure Ethical Standards are met.
Animal Welfare Act of 1966
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals Replacement. This strategy suggests that researchers consider methods that avoid using vertebrate animals, such as using invertebrate ones or computer models. Refinement. This strategy suggests that researchers use procedures that minimize harm and enhance the well-being of the animals used in research.
Reduction. This strategy suggests that researchers consider methods that minimize the number of animals used in their research while maximizing the information acquired.
Terms and Definitions Module 3
Animal Welfare Act of 1966: Regulates all nonhuman animal care in the United States.
APA Ethics Code: Provides 5 general principles and 10 standards to guide the roles and work of psychology with the goal of upholding human and animal rights.
APA Ethical Principles: General principles that serve as big picture goals to guide ethical conduct for psychologists. The APA Ethical Principles include: beneficence and nonmaleficence, fidelity and responsibility, integrity, justice, and respect for people’s rights and dignity.
APA Ethical Standards: Ten specific guidelines that must be followed to ensure ethical conduct for psychologists. Standards important to research include those that: ensure privacy and confidentiality, participant’s right to withdraw, informed consent, deception and debriefing, institutional review boards, and protection for nonhuman animals.
Belmont Report: Contains ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. Consists of three core principles: respect for persons, beneficence, justice.
Beneficence: Part of the Belmont Report that mandates researchers to minimize harm and maximize benefits for research participants.
Beneficence and nonmaleficence: APA Ethical Principle that mandates protection from harm, based on the welfare and rights of humans and the welfare of animals.
Conflict of Interest: A type of fraud that involves not disclosing when a researcher’s perspective or situation may influence the outcome of a study.
Debriefing: Following a study’s completion, researchers provide participants correct information about the study’s purpose and rationale. Included in the APA Ethical Standards.
Deception: When the information initially provided to participants in a research study is incomplete or inaccurate in order to prevent participants from knowing the true purpose of the study. Included in the APA Ethical Standards.
Ethics: Set of principles agreed upon by a group.
Fabrication: A type of fraud that involves making up dating or results and reporting them.
Falsification: A type of fraud that involves altering research materials, processes, or results so the research recorded or presented is not a true representation of the research.
Fidelity and responsibility: APA Ethical Principle that suggests that psychologists build trust, conduct their business professionally, cooperate with others, and provide responsible services.
Fraud: The misinterpretation of facts, or lying.
Right to withdraw: Even after individuals agree to participate in research, they may change their minds and opt out of the project at any point with no negative consequences. Included in the APA Ethical Standards.
Risk-benefit analysis: The procedure an institutional review board uses for deciding if the potential harm of a research study outweighs the benefits of the research outcome.
Self-fulfilling prophecy: When participants try to guess the true purpose of a study, they may change their response to what they think should be the answer.
Social desirability: When participants try to guess the true purpose of a study, they may change their response to avoid sharing something they feel may make them look bad.
Three Rs: Three strategies for making ethical decisions regarding animal research including replacement, refinement, and reduction.
Research Methods Notes
Course: Research Methods In Psychology (PSYC 2140)
University: Auburn University
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