02/06/14 Types of Research

1. Descriptive Research- We cannot say exactly, but we can describe what we see.
• Types of Descriptive Research
1. Case Studies- A detailed picture of one or few subjects.
2. Survey Method- Most common type of psychology in study
• Measures correlation
• Cheap and fast
• Use interview, mail, phone, internet
• Low- response rate
2. Random Sampling- Identify the population you want to study.
• The sample must be representative of the population you want to study.
• One reason is the false conscious effect.  The tendency to over estimate the extent to which others share out beliefs and behaviors.
• Low- Response rate.
• People lie or misinterpret themselves
• Wording effects.
3. Naturalistic Observation
• Watch subjects in their natural environment.
• Do not manipulate the environment.
• Hawthorne effect but even the control group may experience changes. 
• Just the fact that you know you are in an experiment can cause change.
4. Correlation Method
• Correlation expresses a relationship between two variables.
• Does not show causation.
• Measured used a correlation coefficient.
• A number that measures the strength of a relationship.
• Range is from -1 to +1 
• The relationship gets weaker the closer you get to zero.
• Positive correlation: the variables go in the same direction.
• Negative correlation: the variables go in opposite directions.