Psychology 102

Problems and Solutions in Research

   Before conducting an experiment on people, psychologists today are required to submit their plan to a Human Subjects Commission.  Stanley Milgram’s experiment on the effects of punishment on learning is an example of a single-blind experiment. The result of the Milgram experiment implied that the individuals could easily inflict pain on others if such orders were issued by a respected authority. Researchers and participants do not know if the participants are receiving a placebo in a double-blind experiment. A common control used in testing new drugs is a double-blind experiment. A taste test in which the participant cannot view the brands being tested (but the researcher can) is an example of single-blind experiment.  A researcher’s behavior influences the participant’s behavior in a self-fulfilling prophecy. When a participant’s illness changes solely  from the particant’s belief that the treatment will be effective, the participant is exhibiting a placebo effect. A placebo is a form of treatment that resembles medical therapy but has no medical effects. When conducting an experiment, researchers avoid changing facial expressions in front of a participant to avoid a self- fulfilling prophecy.

What is Research? 

   A small group used by researchers to conduct a study of a given population is a sample. The study group that is exposed to the independent variable is called experimental. A case study is an intensive investigation of one or more participants. A correlation is a description on how two sets of data relate to each other. The value of a case study is that it provides a wealth of descriptive material that may generate new hypotheses. An educated guess is an hypothesis. Variables are the conditions and behaviors in a study that are subject to change. Although when a type of variable is deliberately manipulated it is then independent.

The Four Different Interview Types

  A Semi-Structured Interview has questions or statements that can be open ended. In a Structured Interview has questions or statements that aren’t open-ended. Unstructured Interview has a list of topic. Free Association is when the interviewer and the respondent merely have a conversation.