Module+2+Psychology+as+a+Science



Knowing how research should be conducted in any science is very important for our being able to judge and evaluate the findings of a study. This module in Introduction to Psychology focuses on types of research done in psychology. The pros and cons of that research. And finally how research ought to be carried out. One of the side topics for this module is ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).


 * Readings:**
 * [|Research methods in psychology]. Your text does a fairly good job on this, but for another description this reading may be of use to you.
 * [|Issues in research] . You are responsible for this reading.
 * Notes on Research in Psychology: [[file:Notes on Research in Psychology.pages]]

=Video and Other Links to the Topics Covered in Module 2= [|Understanding Research from Discovering Psychology] =
 * The video below is required viewing for psychology students in Introductory Psychology. This is a very good series narrated by a very popular American psychologist, Phil Zombardo.
 * This site allows students to participate in a multitude of lab experiments that are psychologically related. http://psych.hanover.edu/research/exponnet.html
 * There are some research topics that you may be interested in. Most all of these are survey type.

Assignment: You are to watch one of the films below. Respond to the questions, and hand them in for a participation grade.
 * Hollywood films related to research**=

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 * One of the challenges of observations** is that sometimes the observer, without meaning to, influences the behavior of the subjects being studied. A sort of spin on this idea is the film, //The Truman Show//. If you haven't seen this film yet, you might want to get an idea what it's about from the trailer below.
 * Questions for //The Truman Show//**
 * 1) If you were conducting an experiment and were only studying Truman, what kind of study would that be? Why?
 * 2) Would it be possible to conduct naturalistic observation on Truman, considering his whole world is controlled by the television producers, much like the control over factors that could be found in a laboratory? Why or why not?
 * 3) If given the opportunity, would you participate in an event where all of your actions could be viewed by millions of people, much like in the television series 'Big Brother?' Why or why not?

Ultimately one of the goals of psychological research is to find cures for mental disorders. In the film Awakenings, a doctor, played by Robin Williams uses various research methodologies to provide a cure, albeit temporary, to the patients he was working with that were in catatonic states. The story is based on the life of [|Oliver Sacks]

media type="youtube" key="JAz-prw_W2A" height="390" width="480" =
 * Questions for //Awakenings//**
 * 1) When people regressed into "statues" again, did they feel all the pain was worth the short-lived improvement? What about the doctors?
 * 2) What research methods can can be seen in this film? List them and explain where and when it is used.
 * 3) If you were in the same situation as the patients, would you want to undergo a treatment like that if you knew the improvements would only be short-term? Why or why not?
 * 4) Bonus (additional marks for this one) How does encephalitis affect the brain? Some research will be needed.

== =Sample Design Problems= The design problems for this activity (assignment) are below. If you would like to make one up on your own, you may. Let me know. For the one you choose/are assigned/ or create you are to (follow the guidelines on pp. 36-7 of //Introduction to Psychology 8e)//: Problems: Upon completion of your design. You may be asked to **critique another student's design** in your (or another class). This will be the second part of this activity. In your assessment consider whether the design allows for there to be **confounding variables**. If so, how might these distort or skew the results of the study? Be sure to explain.
 * Follow the rules outlined on the aforementioned pages where appropriate.
 * Be sure to clearly and concisely explain what and how you will conduct your experiment/observation etc.
 * 1) A psychology teacher believes that listening to music while studying will increase students' retention. Design an experiment to prove or disprove her theory.
 * 2) A new drug has been developed which is reported to prevent seasickness. Design an experiment which will determine its effectiveness.
 * 3) A motivational speaker claims that wearing red on the day of an exam "energizes" the brain and improves performance. Your psychology professor doubts that this is true. Design an experiment that would test whether the speaker is correct.
 * 4) An English professor believes that students who have the opportunity to write their essay on word processors will produce better essays than those who write their essays by hand. Design a study that tests the professor's belief.
 * 5) An exercise physiologist counsels his clients to exercise in the morning rather than at night to facilitate weight loss. Design an experiment to test whether his is correct advice.
 * 6) A student insist that smoking marijuana does not interfere with his snowboarding skills. Design an experiment (in a laboratory) that would test for this. Why would you have trouble actually doing this?
 * 7) Many parents assert that children "amp out" or "bounce of the wall" after they eat sugar. Design a study to determine whether this assertion is true.
 * 8) Your nurse friend insists that men are less likely than women to wash their hands after using a public restroom. Is this belief just a myth?
 * 9) Your women's studies class has a huge debate whether young children still hold stereotyped views about what professions men and women can hold. How could you test this with access to several kindergarten classes?
 * 10) Your friend insists that he can tell the difference between expensive bottled water and ordinary tap water. Design a study to test this assertion.