Deat Tipsters, Here are some papers that are discussed in my research methods class. I give hints about what to focus on, although there is a set oc questions we usually ask. Some papers have weaknesses that students try to identify. The following information comes from the course handout. Sincerely, Stuart Information from Course Handout Discussions The purpose of class discussions (open exchange) is to critically evaluate a number of research articles and published papers that illustrate points of methodology and statistics and, hopefully, provide some interesting data. Tethered with the writing up of projects, reading the assigned articles exposes you first-hand to the research process and will help you to understand the principles presented in the texts and in lectures. When you prepare fordiscussions that are based on reports of scientific research (which means almost all), and whenever you encounter a research example, try to answer these 10 questions: 1. Which content area of psychology is represented? 2. What is the subject population? 3. What is the source of the problem? 4. What is (are) the hypothesis (es)? 5. What type(s) of research method is (are) involved? 6. What are the operational definitions? 7. What are the independent, dependent and controlled extraneous variables? 8. What techniques were used to control variables? 9. What statistics were used? 10. Have you any criticisms (particularly of the logic, method, data analysis or interpretation of results)? Discussion 2 CR8: Festinger, L., & Carlsmith, J. M. (1959). Cognitive consequences of forced compliance. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 58, 203-210. Clearly understand the source of the research, derivation of predictions and type of research method. Decide what the independent and dependent variables are and how they are operationally defined. Think about statistics. Discussion 3 CR9: Carsello, C. J., & Creaser, J. W. (1978). Does Transcendental Meditation affect grades? Journal of Applied Psychology, 63, 644-645. What is the source of the research? Hypotheses? How were the groups formed? What is the type of research method? Think about statistics. CR10. Rideout, B. E., Dougherty, S., & Wernert, L. (1998). Effect of music on spatial performance: A test of generality. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 86, 512-514. Source of research? What were they conditions and why were they used? What statistics were used and why? Implications of the findings? Discussion 4 CR11: Nash, M. R., Drake, S. D., Wiley, S., & Khalsa, S. (1986). Accuracy of recall of hypnotically age-regressed subjects. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 95, 2948-300. Think about source of the research, hypotheses, formation of groups, statistics, interpretation of results. Discussion 5 CR12: Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67, 371-378. CR13: Milgram, S. (1964). Group pressure and action against a person. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 69, 137-143. In CR12, concentrate on the area of psychology, type of research method, operational definitions and procedure, and the precise result. We might also consider ethics (see M3). In CR13, concentrate on type of research method, procedure and results. Discussion 6 CR14: Marks, D. F. (1973). Visual imagery differences in recall of pictures. British Journal of Psychology, 64, 17-24. Source of research; type of research method; formation of groups; procedure, interpretation of results. Again, note that F can be thought of as t2. Discussion 7 One of these will be discussed: CR18: Mill, D., Gray, T., & Mandel, D. R. (1994). Influence of research methods and statistics courses on everyday reasoning, critical abilities, and belief in unsubstantiated phenomena. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 26, 246-258. What is the question asked? Is there a research hypothesis? What are the independent and dependent variables? What kinds of control conditions were employed? What statistics were used? CR19. Wilson, T. D., DePaulo, B. M., Mook, D. G., & Klaaren, K. J. (1993). Scientists' evaluations of research: The biasing effects of the importance of the topic. Psychological Science, 4, 322-325. Source of research? Who were the participants? Type of research method and why? Procedure? What statistics were used? Implications? CR15: Motley, M. T., & Camden, C. T. (1985). Nonlinguistic influences on lexical selection: Evidence from double entendres. Communication Monographs, 52, 124-135. This paper is difficult in places. Here, I provide a summary of the reasoning behind the research. Then you can concentrate on reading the experimental procedures and results.. What do you think of the findings?) Brief synopsis of background for CR15: Speech output is seen as generated by nodes in a network of words. The node that is most highly activated will produce the output. Activation occurs via association from other nodes in the network, which may be stimulated (activated) in various ways. Associations may be based on meaning (semantic) or sound (phonics). Motley's argument is that nodes may also be activated by nonlinguistic associations, such as emotional associations (e.g., anxiety, conflict). So, as he writes on p. 125, "..Freudian slips - e.g., target "hospitality" - error "hostility" in the context of anger" may occur. The purpose of this study is to examine word associations in the presence of aroused emotion, in this case, sexual arousal. On p. 127, Motley states a specific hypothesis for his first study. Discussion 8 CR16: Page, S. (1977). Effects of the mental illness label in attempts to obtain accommodation. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 9, 85-90. Concentrate on source, type of research, statistics. Discussion 9 CR17: Freedman, J. L., & Fraser, S. C. (1966). Compliance without pressure: The foot-in-the-door technique. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 4, 195-202. Source, type of research, formation of groups, statistics, data obtained. Discussion 10 CR20: Silverman, L. H., Frank, S. G., & Dachinger, P. (1974). A psychoanalytic interpretation of the effectiveness of systematic desensitization: Experimental data bearing on the role of emerging fantasies. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 83, 313-318. Area of psychology, source of research, subject population, formation of groups, type of research method and design; procedure; look carefully at the statistics and the conclusion. ___________________________________________________ Stuart J. McKelvie, Ph.D., Phone: (819)822-9600 Department of Psychology, Extension 2402 Bishop's University, Fax: (819)822-9661 3 Route 108 East, Lennoxville, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quebec J1M 1Z7, Canada. Bishop's University Psychology Department Web Page: http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy ___________________________________________________
