Chapter 3: Developing Ideas
for Research in Psychology
PSYC 212
Dr. Lesley Schimanski
What to Expect in This
Chapter
1. Pointers on how to develop research ideas
2. Types of research
3. Scientific thinking: what can our data can
really tell us? and, what makes a good
theory?
1. Where to get Ideas?
Observations of behaviour
From other research
What’s next?
Direct Replication
Conceptual Replication/Extension
Practical problems
Serendipity
From theory
Ideas From Observations of
Behavior
Watching people and wondering why they behave
the way they do!
Why do…
If something comes to you during everyday life:
write it down!
public
yourself
friends/family
children
pets
Ideas From Other Research
What’s next?
Most commonly, researchers have a “program of
research”
Results give
Develop
Test partial answer
Hypothesis Another
Hypothesis but lead to
Hypothesis
more questions
Case Study: What’s a
Research Program Like?
Example – Sam Weiss, Univ. of Calgary
[Link]
“Big Discovery” – 1992
Neural stem cells
There are cells in the brain that can keep dividing to
produce new neurons – even into adulthood
What since then? A steady research program that follows
up on the big original finding!
[Link]
members/dr-weiss-samuel
[Link]
Specific Tips Adapted From Your
Textbook
Read a journal article that interests you. Then think:
Could the next study test a suggested explanation
given in the Discussion section?
Could the next study compare this suggestion to
another possible explanation?
Does the suggested explanation apply differently to
people with different personalities? cultures?
languages? ages? socioeconomic groups?
Could the methods used in the study be applied to
answer a different question?
Ideas From Other Research
Direct Replication: repeating what was done in
another study to assess reliability of the result
Conceptual Replication/Extension: using similar
procedures to a prior study, but adding or changing
an element to take it “one step further”
Conceptual replication is more common
It can be hard to get research grants for replication
only, but this is changing!!!
Research Ideas: From
Practical Problems
Do you have a problem that needs solving?
What time of day should you study for best results?
How long should your study sessions be?
How could you better handle arguments with your
siblings?
Is there anything you could do to reduce the road
rage you feel while driving?
Are there specific strategies that would be best in
helping you overcome shyness?
Ideas From Theory
Theory: synthesis of outcomes of many studies
Explains why something is the way it is
Has predictive value
Theories are considered “works in progress”
should be updated with the results of further research
Predictions from a theory are tested with research
What are some psychological theories that might be
tested with further research?
Testable hypotheses?
Ideas From Serendipity
Serendipity: The faculty or phenomenon of finding
valuable or agreeable things not sought for (Merriam-
Webster online, [Link]). Happy Accidents!
In other words: stumbling across an idea or finding
when you’re looking for something else!
Accidental Discoveries
Encouraging serendipity:
A good scientist will recognize something interesting
when it pops up.
“Chance favours the prepared mind.” – Louis
Pasteur
It’s easy to get very focused on an idea and not pay
attention to anything else. >> stay open-minded!
Creative Thinking in
Research Design
Recognizing (or wondering about!) connections between
variables – these may not be obvious!
Can take many forms! For example:
Generating an interesting research idea – e.g., how does X
affect Y?
Figuring out how to operationalize an independent or
dependent variable – e.g., applying expertise from other areas
(e.g., mingling at scientific conferences; old colleagues)
“Chance favors the prepared mind”… but… sometimes in
depth knowledge can rigidly structure thinking and
make creativity less likely. Some report that “novices” in a
field actually have more creative ideas!
2. Types of Research: What are
Your Options?
A. Basic vs. Applied
B. Lab vs. Field
C. Qualitative vs. Quantitative
Types of Research
A. Basic vs. Applied
Basic research generates new and general
knowledge
cognition: how people think
learning & memory
sensation & perception
biopsychology: the nervous system
Applied research involves finding solutions to
specific, real-world problems
how to design devices for easy use?
how to improve educational services?
Types of Research
B. Lab vs. Field
Distinguished by location:
Laboratory research occurs inside the lab, a controlled
environment
Field research occurs in an environment more like those
experienced during everyday life
Has an independent variable
Common assumption: Lab = basic research, Field =
applied research. Not necessarily the case.
How meaningful are the results?
Mundane realism: does the experiment reflect “real life”
situations or experiences?
Experimental realism: do the subjects take the experiment
seriously during participation?Allows one to draw valid conclusions
Strengths of Lab vs. Field
Research
Lab Field
Better control of Easier to assess with
experiment – reduce relation to everyday life
outside influences
Some situations cannot
Easier to adhere to be replicated in the
ethics requirements –
can easily inform laboratory (practical,
subjects of the study’s ethical, reasons)
requirements and Can be used to confirm,
obtain their consent to
or assess the applicability
participate
of, lab studies
Types of Research
C. Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Quantitative: numerical data are collected and
analyzed (typically with statistics). Measure size,
duration, amount…
Qualitative: non-numerical data, typically a written
discussion of observations
case studies
interviews
observations of behavior
Adding up the Research
Quantitative & qualitative approaches may be
combined within a study
Say, fill out a survey that may be quantified, then have
an interview to explain why certain answers were given
Converging Operations: the study of a particular
topic can benefit from a variety of research studies
done in slightly different ways, if they reach similar
conclusions.
Example: inbred strains of lab rats
Let’s Practice!
Basic vs. Applied?
Lab vs. Field?
Quantitative vs. Qualitative?
Dr. Gruner studied the effect of the personality
trait of openness on a person’s political
viewpoints. He assessed personality and political
views by interviewing participants individually in
an office. He carried out statistical analysis on the
data he obtained to determine whether high or low
openness correlates with conservative or liberal
viewpoints.
Terms to Know
Manipulation Check: did the manipulation
(independent variable) have its intended effect?
e.g., ask the participants what they thought your study
was about after they are done!
Pilot Study: pre-testing parts of the procedure
before you run the actual study.
e.g., have a small number of participants try your
questionnaire. Ask if anything is unclear or confusing.
3. Scientific Assumptions,
Theories, and Data
A. Constructs
B. Producing and Using Theories in Research
C. Limitations in Drawing Conclusions
D. What Makes a Good Theory?
A. Psychological Constructs
Hold on: some things are pretty hard to measure!
What IS motivation? aggression? emotional
intelligence?
can think about these concepts (higher level
abstractions)
but they can’t be measured or observed directly
Psychological Constructs are more complex ideas
that are formed to summarize observations about
things that we cannot see directly
We CAN measure:
Factors that affect a construct
Factors AFFECTED BY a construct
B. Producing & Using
Theories in Research
The Logic of Where Ask a Question
Theories Come From
Do Research
Theories are typically formed
by synthesizing the results of
numerous studies Form Hypothesis
This is called INDUCTION:
logical thought that proceeds Test with
from specific events or Experiment
outcomes to a general
statement (a theory).
Form Conclusions
How does this fit into the
scientific model?
Communicate the
Outcome
From Theory to Ask a Question
Data: Deduction
Do Research
Deduction: a form of
logical reasoning in which
one proceeds from a Form Hypothesis
general theory or
statement (say, a law of
physics) to a prediction Test with
about a specific situation. Experiment
What is this prediction
called? Form Conclusions
How does this fit into
the scientific model? Communicate the
Outcome
C. Limitations in Drawing
Conclusions
Proving Theories… NOT!
One cannot PROVE a theory to be true (we
never know with 100% certainty)
To be safe… we should NEVER NEVER EVER
use the word PROVE when describing our
research! Erase it from your vocabulary now!
One CAN provide inductive support for a
theory
One CAN give a theory a good test by
attempting to falsify it
Language Around Theories
One study can neither prove nor disprove a
theory!
So how do we describe the findings of individual
studies???
The findings support the theory/The findings do not
support the theory.
The findings are consistent with the theory/The
findings are inconsistent with the theory.
The findings provide evidence that supports the
theory/The findings provide evidence that contradicts
the theory.
D. What Makes a Good
Theory?
Falsification
A good theory should be specific enough that it
could be falsified or DISPROVEN (evolution;
Nostradamus)
Karl Popper (philosopher): science proceeds by
creating theories, and then trying to falsify them
Potentially a good way to approach the design of a
research project!
✔
Theories resistant to falsification are considered
POSSIBLY true (but NOT “definitely-100%-closed to
discussion-true”).
Remember, theories are always open for modification
Falsification in Research
Design – Try It!
Hypothesis: Playing relaxation music in the
background will improve performance of those with
ADHD on a mental rotation task.
Typical approach – how could we generate evidence
that supports this prediction?
Falsification approach – how could we generate
evidence that does NOT support this prediction?
Can your research design can provide
evidence in both directions? Support &
falsification?
Parsimony
A good theory should be parsimonious:
contains minimum info necessary to explain and make
predictions
Lloyd Morgan’s Canon (1903): “In no case may we
interpret an action as the outcome of the exercise of
higher psychical faculty, if it can be interpreted as
the outcome of the exercise of one which stands
lower in the psychological scale.”
Historically, main usage is to combat anthropomorphism
in animal psychology
[Link]
Keep in mind that the best approach is to directly
evaluate all possibilities: complex & parsimonious
Summary: So What Makes a
Good Theory?
Might want to consider designing experiments that
attempt to falsify your hypothesis!
It is not more complicated than it needs to be
Create interest
Prompt numerous studies
Result in advancement of knowledge
One Last Reminder…
The results of one study are typically not
enough to falsify a theory, or provide
convincing support of a theory