How to Conduct a Psychology Experiment

Overview

• Conducting a psychology experiment involves a series of structured steps following the scientific method.
• These steps ensure that the experiment is empirical and results are valid.

Steps of the Scientific Method

1. Ask a Testable Question
2. Define Your Variables
3. Conduct Background Research
4. Design Your Experiment
5. Perform the Experiment
6. Collect and Analyze the Data
7. Draw Conclusions
8. Share the Results

Finding a Research Problem or Question

• Choosing a research problem can be challenging.
• Sources for research questions:
  • Commonly Held Beliefs: Investigate folk knowledge, e.g., effects of cramming for exams.
  • Psychology Literature: Explore unanswered questions noted in studies.
  • Everyday Problems: Research practical solutions, e.g., effective memorization strategies.

Define Your Variables

• Variables: Elements that can affect your study outcome.
• Operational Definition: Clearly define and measure abstract concepts.
  • Example: Define sleep deprivation as less than seven hours of sleep.
• Purpose: Control variables by holding constant or manipulating them as independent variables.

Develop a Hypothesis

• Formulate a testable hypothesis predicting relationships between variables.
• Null Hypothesis: States no relationship between variables; used to test the validity of the main hypothesis.

Conduct Background Research

• Understand existing knowledge and unanswered questions.
• Use various sources: books, journals, databases, and websites.
• Background research may refine your hypothesis.

Select an Experimental Design

• Pre-Experimental Design: Studies one group without comparison.
• Quasi-Experimental Design: Includes a control group, lacks randomization.
• True Experimental Design: Features control groups and random assignment.

Standardize Your Procedures

• Ensure all participants experience the same conditions.
• Example: Same driving test conditions for all participants in a sleep study.

Choose Your Participants

• Maintain uniformity in participant characteristics.
• Simple Random Sample: Random selection from a group.
• Stratified Random Sample: Selection from population subsets (e.g., age, location).

Conduct Tests and Collect Data

• Ensure testing procedures are ethical.
• Obtain informed consent from participants.

Analyze the Results

• Use statistics to interpret if results support the hypothesis.
• Statistical Significance: Indicates results are not due to chance.

Share Your Results

• Communicate findings to the scientific community.
• Common methods: Peer-reviewed journals, conferences, presentations.
• Report format may include: Title page, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, references.

Summary

• Conducting a psychology experiment involves structured steps.
• Approval from instructors and review boards is crucial before beginning.
• Sharing results enhances the broader knowledge base.