Deck 4: A: The Psychologists Toolbox: Tools for Building Better Designs

Question 1

Jules wants to understanding the personality of people who go into the health sciences.Specifically,he hypothesizes that individuals in the health sciences are higher in the personality trait of conscientiousness than are individuals in other disciplines.Demonstrate how he may test his hypothesis using behavior trace data,behavioral observation,and behavioral choice.

Answer 1

This question calls for students to identify different behavioral measures that could be used to examine the research hypothesis.Behavioral trace is a behavioral measure that relies on evidence left behind by a participant who is no longer present.In the current study,Jules could look at information like driving records,college transcripts,or even medical records to see if participants who gravitate toward the health sciences show greater conscientiousness.This would be noted by fewer traffic violations/accidents,higher grades,and more routine medical check-ups.Behavioral observation is a behavioral measure that relies on directly seeing or observing behavior.Jules could bring participants into the lab and observe how long they persist at (or how successfully they complete)a task.In line with his hypothesis,participants in the health sciences should show greater persistence and reliability in completing tasks.Finally,a behavioral choice is a behavioral measure involving participants making purposeful selection from several options.For this study,Jules may give participants the option to complete an obligation or choose not to.The selection of option would be indicative of each individual's level of conscientiousness,with highly conscientious people showing greater follow-through and commitment to obligations.

Question 2

Explain how the "college sophomore problem" may negatively impact the field of psychology.

Answer 2

The "college sophomore problem" is when researchers use the convenience sample of college students (almost exclusively)to test hypotheses and draw conclusions.The assumption is that random sampling is not necessary because psychological processes are universal to all humans.However,this assumption may not be true for all psychological processes.To the extent that researchers are examining a phenomenon that they have reason to believe is universal,then the "college sophomore problem" should have few negative consequences on data,conclusions,or the larger field.However,not all psychological phenomena are universal and it is misleading to think that all processes in undergraduates mimic (or map on to)those of older and/or less educated adults.If researchers over rely on this convenience sample they may be limiting the generalizability of research findings to a very small subset of people,thereby doing a disservice to the entire field of psychology.

Question 3

List and describe ways that researchers can minimize error (both random and systematic)in their studies.

Answer 3

Random error is variation from the measure's true score due to unsystematic or chance factors.Systematic error is error that consistently pushes scores in a given direction.It is difficult to eliminate random error,as it occurs unpredictably,however it is possible to minimize both random and systematic error.Both types of error can be minimized through careful planning and attention to detail.Proper planning should cause the experimenter to be less likely to behave thoughtlessly or carelessly.Similarly,appropriate planning and forethought can identify (and help researchers correct)places where the participant may misinterpret the instructions or be likely to fall victim to the social desirability bias or demand characteristics.Error can also be reduced by standardizing the research situation.Scripts and cover stories minimize the differences in administration among participants and across conditions.When working with observational measures,researchers should minimize observer bias (the misinterpretation of data by the researcher based on their existing beliefs,experiences,or expectations).This can be done by training observers how to objectively code the variable of interest.Finally,when using self-report measures,researchers should seek to design scales with the appropriate amount of sensitivity in hopes of minimizing the possibility of ceiling or floor effects.

Question 4

List and describe the seven elements of an APA-style report.

Question 5

Compare and contrast self-report and behavioral measures,noting advantages and disadvantages of each.