---------- INTRODUCTION to PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH DESIGN ----------
---------- SYLLABUS ----------
Dr. John M. Morgan

REQUIRED TEXT:     Experimental Methodology  eighth edition
			by Larry B. Christensen, Allyn and Bacon, 2001
			ISBN #0-205-30832-5
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Chapter 4

Hypotheses and Research
	Source of Ideas:
		Peer reviewed studies published in the literature, e.g. 	
			search library's databases
		Derived from Theory 
			Theories summarize & integrate past research and 	
			suggests new relationships and makes new 		
			predictions, e.g. cognitive dissonance.
		Culled from the Internet – be cautious
	Pitfalls:
		Poor material for scientific research: 				
	
			Morality and religion cannot be refuted, i.e. 		
			science cannot resolve which view of abortion is 	
			correct: the pro-life or pro-choice positions.  
	Feasibility: with respect to time, money, access to participant 	
		samples, expertise and ethics.	
									p93
	Research Problem:
	What relation exists between two or more variables?
		variables should express a relationship question form
		problem must be empirically testable. e.g. Milgram 	
		(1964) Can a group induce a person to deliver 		
		punishment of increasing severity to a protesting 		
		individual?  Yes

	Scientific Hypothesis = predicted relationship among the 	
		variables, e.g. Those participants receiving lower levels 	
		(doses) of alcohol will identify targets on a computer 	
		monitor faster and with greater accuracy than those 	
		receiving higher levels.
	Null Hypothesis = statement of no relationships among the 	
		variables, e.g. there is no difference in the speed and 	
		accuracy of locating a target on a computer monitor 	
		across the participants in five groups each receiving 	
		different levels (amounts) of alcohol.
		The null hypothesis is always the hypothesis tested.

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Copyright © 2002, Dr. John M. Morgan, All rights reserved - This page last edited Nov 25, 2002
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