Goals of Science. Chapter 2. Research Methods in Industrial/Organizational Psychology INP3004/MAN3360. Dr. Steve.

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1 Chapter 2 in Industrial/Organizational Psychology INP34/MAN336 Dr. Steve Observe Hypothesize Test Replicate Conclude Scientific Method Goals of Science Description Prediction Explanation 1

2 Research Steps 1. Statement of Problem 2. Design Research Study Replicate 3. Measurement 4. Data Analysis 5. Conclusions Research Steps Step 1. Statement of Problem Observe behavior, then state problem Develop theory to explain behavior Purpose of theory Research Steps Step 2. Design Research Study Research Setting Degree of Control 2

3 Research Steps Step 2. Design Research Study Methods: Lab Experiment Field Experiment Questionnaire/Survey Naturalistic Observation Simulation Case Study Laboratory Experiment Study conducted in a contrived environment Benefits: Disadvantages: Example: What are the effects of sleep loss on one s ability to operate heavy equipment? Control: Realism: Study conducted in the natural setting using actual employees Benefits: Disadvantages: Field Experiment Example: What is the effect of orientation training on turnover and performance? Control: Realism: 3

4 Self-report to obtain data on attitudes/behaviors conducted by phone, mail, interviews, electronically Benefits: Disadvantages: Questionnaire/Survey Example: How satisfied are employees with their jobs? Control: Realism: Observe overt behaviors over time Benefits: Disadvantages: Naturalistic Observation Example: Do smokers take more rest-breaks than non-smokers? Control: Realism: Computer Simulation Approximate realistic scenarios in a laboratory setting Benefits: Disadvantages: Example: Can police officers tell the difference between criminal and hostage under stressful conditions? Control: Realism: 4

5 In depth view of past events using interviews and archival records Benefits: Disadvantages: Case Study Example: What human errors were involved in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident? Control: Realism: Research Steps Step 3. Measurement Types of Variables Quantitative things you measure Qualitative things you categorize Research Steps Step 3. Measurement Experimental Variables Independent Variable Dependent Variable Extraneous Variable Example: 5

6 Research Steps Step 3. Measurement Regression Variables (used for prediction) Ŷ = a + bx Predictor Variable (X) Criterion Variable (Ŷ) Example: Measurement Scales Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio Example: Research Steps Step 3. Measurement Research Steps Step 4. Data Analysis Descriptive vs. Inferential Statistics Descriptive stats merely describe data Frequency Central tendency Variability Inferential stats used to test hypotheses Analysis of variance Correlation Regression Meta-analysis 6

7 Data Analysis Frequency Distribution Frequency IQ Scores Data Analysis Skewed Frequency Distributions Normal or Bell-shaped Distribution Frequency IQ Scores Positively Skewed Distribution Frequency Weight (lbs) of NFL Lineman Professional Golf Scores Negatively Skewed Distribution Frequency Data Analysis Central Tendency example scores = 5, 6, 6, 8, 9, 1, 11, 17 _ 1. Mean average: X = X / N Mean = 72 / 8 = 9 2. Median middle score (when placed in order) - use when outliers exaggerate the mean Median = Mode most often occurring score Mode = 6 In a normal distribution, Mean = Median = Mode 7

8 Data Analysis Variability Variability how spread out the scores are on the distribution scores Data Analysis Variability Range Standard Deviation average distance from the mean S= Σ(x x) 2 / n 1 S = (5-9) 2 + (6-9) 2 + (6-9) 2 + (8-9) 2 + (9-9) 2 + (1-9) 2 + (11-9) 2 + (17-9) 2 / 7 S = 3.85 Standard Deviation Normal Distribution S = 16 Mean = 1 95% of scores 68% of scores -2 s -1s s 1s 2s IQ Scores 8

9 Data Analysis Correlation Correlation ( r ) Degree of relationship between two variables Used for prediction Cannot be used to infer causation Range from Negative r Positive r Zero r Data Analysis Correlation College GPA GRE Scores Positive Correlation Years of Practice Golf Scores Negative Correlation Correlation Examples IQ scores of identical twins: r = +.86 Phases of the moon & # acts of violence: r =. Economic conditions & # lynchings: r = -.43 Amount of ice cream sold & # drownings: r = +.6 Price of rum in Cuba & priests salaries in New England: r = +.38 Number of firetrucks on the scene is highly correlated with the amount of damage: r = +.8 Note. The correlation coefficients for the majority of these examples are fictitious. 9

10 Data Analysis Meta-analysis Meta-analysis statistical procedure that combines the results of many independent research findings on a single topic Used to estimate true relationship Measures effect size of findings Uses archival data Research Steps Step 5. Conclusions Always think critically about the research you read Who were the participants in the study? How strong of a relationship was found? Was it causal or correlational? Was it a field study or laboratory study? How was data collected and analyzed? Do you agree with the conclusions based on the analyses provided? Ethical Principles of Research Informed consent: Minimal risk: Debriefing: 1

11 1. Available data still suggest that on average, women receive lower pay than men. A professor decided to design a program to train college women to negotiate higher salaries. To assess the effectiveness of the program, 3 college women were randomly assigned to attend either a 12-hour salary negotiation skill training course or to be on a waiting list for the course. After the first group attended the training, both groups were tested on their negotiation skills by a trained individual(a grad student) role-playing as an employer making a job offer. The individuals that had salary negotiation training negotiated a higher salary in the roleplaying exercise. Exercise 1. Research method? Independent variable? Dependent variable? Confounds? 2. A researcher wants to understand to what extent variables such as financial difficulties, employment commitment (how much work means to a person), social support, and an individual s ability to structure his or her time and keep busy have an impact on mental and physical health during unemployment. In order to answer this question, 1 unemployed executives are asked to complete a questionnaire that asks questions about financial difficulties, employment commitment, social support, time structure, mental health, and physical health. Forty of the 1 questionnaires given out are returned. 11

12 Exercise 2. Research method? Independent variable(s)? Dependent variable? Confounds? 3. The Scandinavian Sweets Factory recently implemented shift work. The factory is now open 24 hours a day, and employees either work an early shift, a late shift, or a night shift. The manager plans to compare each shift in six months to assess whether there are differences in the groups on productivity and turnover. Exercise 3. Research method? Independent variable(s)? Dependent variable? Confounds? 12

13 4. A researcher wanted to examine whether anew machine would lead to increased productivity on an assembly line at Sam s Office Supply Factory. He randomly assigned ten workers to the new machine and ten workers to the old machine. The workers in the two groups were carefully matched in terms of their ability and experience. The researcher monitored the total number of products produced and the amount of product rejects on the two machines over a period of two weeks. Results showed the workers on the new machine had higher levels of productivity. Exercise 4. Research method? Independent variable(s)? Dependent variable? Confounds? 5. In a study of bias in work performance ratings, black and white undergraduate psychology students were assigned the task of providing work performance ratings for videotaped employees (really grad students pretending to be employees) who differed in terms of their race (black or white). Level of performance was held constant on the videotape. Results showed that white raters tended to give slightly higher work performance ratings to the white employees on the videotape. Black raters, on the other hand, tended to give slightly higher work performance ratings to the black employees on the videotape. 13

14 Exercise 5. Research method? Independent variable(s)? Dependent variable? Confounds? 14

Guided Reading 9 th Edition. informed consent, protection from harm, deception, confidentiality, and anonymity.

Guided Reading 9 th Edition. informed consent, protection from harm, deception, confidentiality, and anonymity. Guided Reading Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Applications 9th Edition EDFS 635: Educational Research Chapter 1: Introduction to Educational Research 1. List and briefly describe the