Honours Seminar in
Psychology
Lecture 2: Context of the Research
Process
Thesis Disasters (that rarely occur)
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Project not approved by ethics
Lose thesis on computer disk
Can not get any participants
Supervisory problems
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Too much, too little attention
Too slow, or too busy to do a thesis
Lose interest or motivation
General panic or physical illness
Strikes, floods, mortality
In groups of three, develop a
scientific hypothesis based on
something you have found in
the newspaper (provided in
class)
Nominate someone to present this to the class
1.
What newspaper piece inspired the question?
2.
What is the scientific hypothesis?
3.
What research could be conducted?
4.
Other people in class should feel free to ask
questions.
What testable hypotheses were
created?
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Taeko, Katrina, Amanda
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Miscal, Emily, Keri-Ann
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Idea: Can you predict the timing and location of
terrorist acts?
Idea: Is there a relationship between gas prices and
stress of consumers?
Jordan, Leanne, Susan
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Idea: What is the longterm emotional impact of
hurricane Katrina on rescue workers from
immediate area vs. other parts
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Emily, Kathryn, Shannon
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Amanda, Lindsay, Nicole
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Idea: Why do dogs not learn to not attack
porcupines through operant conditioning
Idea: What personality characteristics lead to
idolising media stars? (attachment, fantasy)
Nicole, Myretha, Luise
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Idea: Can people learn social lessons from movies
What makes a scientific explanation?
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Empirical: Objective and systematic
observation, observable by the senses
Rational: Follows rules of logic and known fact
Testable, falsifiable
Parsimonious: Requires the fewest assumptions
General Laws
Rigorously evaluated
What do polygraphs used
in lie detector tests
measure?
Basic Vs.
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Theory
Empirical
Real-world examples of a
phenomenon not
important
Experimental
Applied
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Problem in the realworld
Theoretically-based, but
does not test theory
Less controlled
Can be less general
Were your newspaper-based questions basic
or applied questions?
Figure 1-4: The
Research Process