Class Experiment Psych 231 Research Methods in Psychology

Class Experiment Psych 231: Research Methods in Psychology

n Today going to go over the design for the class experiment. Class experiment

n Instructions: n n n I’m going to read a list of words. After I’m done, please count backwards by threes from the number that I give you. Then I’ll tell you to write down as many of the words as you can. Read list 683 Memory Demonstration

n Please recall as many of the items now (write them down). n Check: Book Table Newspaper Tree Magazine Shrub Car Stereo Minivan Radio Truck Video Desk Flower Dresser Recall

n What variables might influence performance on a memory task like this? n We’ll select two things: n n Mode of presentation (visual vs. auditory) Structure of the list The issues

Two different presentation modes: See the words Hear the words BOOK CAR DESK DRESSER FLOWER MAGAZINE MINIVAN Class experiment

Two different organizations will be used: Alphabetical & BOOK CAR DESK DRESSER FLOWER MAGAZINE MINIVAN Class experiment Categorical BOOK MAGAZINE DESK DRESSER MINIVAN CAR FLOWER

Two different organizations will be used: Alphabetical BOOK CAR DESK & DRESSER FLOWER MAGAZINE MINIVAN Class experiment Categorical BOOK DRESSER MAGAZINE MINIVAN DESK CAR FLOWER

n What are the issues that we’re looking at? n What is the Dependent variable? • Construct? memory • Operationalized? accurate recall of words from list n What is/are the Independent variable(s)? • Mode of presentation • Op: Read to participant, Read by participant • Organization of list • Op: Alphabetical, Categorical The issues

n How many conditions do we have? n What is the design of the study? • 2 factors Mode of presentation Read to Organization Alphabetical of list Categorical n What are your predictions? The design Read by

n n I have put the materials together and posted them on the syllabus (click on “class experiment) Your homework is to n n n Download “Exp packet” Fiind four volunteers Collect some data Bring the data back to class on Monday I will compile and analyze the results Based on this experiment and these results you will produce an APA style research report Class experiment

n In the packet you’ll find: n Instructions • To create the stimuli • To read to your participants • For compiling the data (data sheet provided) n n Four consent forms Debriefing sheet Class experiment

1. Find 4 volunteers 2. Test each participant (one-at-a-time, in one of the conditions) (Across your 4 volunteers, you should have tested all 4 conditions) 1. Following presentation of the word list, 2. Have them count backwards by 3 s for 15 sec. 3. Ask them to recall as many of the words as they can (have them write them down) 3. Count up the number of correctly recalled words and enter this information into the data summary sheet 4. Bring the data back to class on Monday The Procedure

n What do we need to control? n n 1 second per item Presentation rate 90 seconds Amount of time for recall Number of items on the list 15 items 5 categories, 3 items per Actual items on the list cat (see Exp packet) n Any other things we need to think about? n Ethics • Consent form, debriefing • I have create these and they are part of the experiment packet that you download The design

n Complete APA style research report n Intro • There are 3 required readings which you must include these in your introduction • Kirsner (1974) • Donaldson (1980) • Cohen (1963) • Additionally, you must find at least 1 additional article to include in your introduction n n Methods, Results, References, etc. Two drafts (see web pages for specific details) n n 1 st: due week 10 Final: due week 15 The class paper