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Research Ideas,
Theory and Observation in
Psychological Research
PSY 301
Research Ideas
In psychology there are many questions, and they primarily center around behavior. But the questions usually fall into two main categories: applied research - practical problems basic research - asking about general properties of people and their abilities PSY 301 Examples of research questions Applied research What is the most effective method to quit smoking? Which diet program is most effective? What is the most efficient design for store check-out stations? How can I stop my friend from gambling (and losing money)? Basic research Why do people gamble? What types of reasoning do people use to solve different problems? How long can we keep items in our memory? How does the type of question influence my recall ability?
Observation Research questions are just waiting to be discovered by someone who keeps their eyes open. Examples: Sigmund Freud - observed his patients Jean Piaget - observed children informally Bluma Zeigarnik (in your text) - observed the behavior of a waiter in a cafe Getting Some Ideas While on a Walk
- Do students learn more (a wake and
excited) or less (distracted) on sunny
days?
- What features of a birdsong attract a
mate?
- Are ice cream sales tied to temperature,
sunlight, or neither?
- Do big obnoxious traffic bumps reduce
accidents?
- Do guide dogs inhibit or facilitate social
interactions?
Getting Some Ideas While on a Walk
- Are students (and faculty) more likely to be on
time with an hourly grid?
- Do students study better at home or in the
library?
- Do commuter students drink less than
residents?
- What proportion of those buried nuts can
squirrels find?
- Do hearing impaired students learn more with
a sign interpreter or a stenographer?
Previous research Any research project will usually produce these: Unexpected results Insight into the phenomenon studied such that the experimenter sees many more potential questions that need to be answered to !understand" what is going on. One can get the same benefit by simply reading already published research articles. PSY 301 Previous research There are many ways to build new research upon existing published research. 1 ) Extension - essentially repeat (replicate) the original study but manipulate one or more variables that were not manipulated before. 2 ) Attempt to resolve conflicting results - it is not hard to find research where there is some contradictory data. Study the articles closely and think about what might be the cause of the contradictory data. Do the experiment to test your idea. PSY 301 Theory Definition: a collection of statements/propositions that serve to provide an explanation of a phenomenon. Theories are good sources of research ideas.
Theory Theories should provide the following: Organization of existing knowledge Understanding of the phenomenon Predictions about behavior Good Theories should have these features: Parsimony - fewest statements Precision - clear and concise Testability - must be testable Theory Theory
