Essay on "Psychology the Text Discusses Several Methods"

Essay 8 pages (2699 words) Sources: 1+ Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Psychology

The text discusses several methods of studying human behavior. These include the case study, naturalistic observation, correlational research, survey research, and the experimental method. If you were going to design a study investigating the relationship between alcohol and violence, which of these methods would you choose and why? What would be the relative strengths and weaknesses of this study? What ethical considerations must be taken into account while undertaking this study?

I would use the Survey Research method because it can encompass any measurement procedures that involve asking questions of respondents. A survey can range anywhere from a short paper and pencil feedback form to an intensive one on one in depth interview. Survey's can be divided into two broad areas: questionnaires and interviews (Survey Research, 2006).

Surveys can be broken down into classes by their method of data collection. Some of the most common types of surveys are mail, telephone interview, and in-person interviews. Mail surveys are usually very low in cost. Problems can arise with any survey when in their use insufficient cooperation from respondents. Mail surveys are most effective when directed at particular groups. Telephone interviews are the most efficient method of collecting some types of data and are being used more and more. They work particularly well to situations where timeliness is a factor and the length of the survey is limited. in-person interviews are much more expensive than mail or telephone surveys. But they may be a necessity especially when complex information is to be collected. Some surveys combine various methods in order to be carried out (Chapter 1 - What is a Survey, n.d.).

Doing research using the survey method has several strengths. Surveys are relatively inexpensive especially if self administered. They are useful in describing the characteristics of a large population. There is no other method of observation that can provide this general capability. They can be administered from remote locations using mail, email or telephone, which makes it possible to use very large samples making the results statistically significant even when analyzing multiple variables. This method allows for many questions to be asked about a given topic giving considerable flexibility to the analysis. There is flexibility that can be used in deciding how the questions will be administered: as face-to-face interviews, by telephone, as group administered written or oral survey, or by electronic means. Standardized questions allow for measurements to be more precise by enforcing uniform definitions upon the participants. Standardization ensures that similar data can be collected from groups and then interpreted in all the same way (Advantages and Disadvantages of the Survey Method, 2009)

Using this type of research method can have its weaknesses as well. It is a methodology that relies on standardization that forces the researcher to develop questions general enough to be minimally appropriate for all respondents. These surveys can be inflexible in that they require the initial study design the tool and administration of the tool to remain unchanged throughout the data collection. The researcher must make sure that a large number of the selected sample will respond. It is sometimes hard for participants to recall information or to tell the truth about a controversial question. As opposed to direct observation, survey research excluding some interview approaches can seldom deal with context (Advantages and Disadvantages of the Survey Method, 2009)

The primary assumptions of the ethics in social research are: voluntary participation, no harm to subjects, integrity, privacy, anonymity and confidentiality. All of these things must be considered in order to make sure that people's rights are protected and that no ethical violations are made (Advantages and Disadvantages of the Survey Method, 2009). In order for a research study to be successful it is important that all procedures are properly followed and all rules are closely adhered to.

2. What is the difference between negative and positive reinforcement? Describe two situations: one in which you have been positively reinforced; and one in which you have been negatively reinforced. Be sure to identify the reinforcement and the target behaviors in your examples and discuss how you were reinforced. Include any shaping that occurred due to these reinforcements. What ethical considerations must be taken into account while undertaking this approach?

A reinforcer is any stimulus or event that functions to increase the likelihood of the behavior that led to it, being repeated. In order to separate the possibilities, Skinner used the term positive to refer to those situations where a stimulus is presented and negative to refer to those situations in which a stimulus was removed (Schater, Gilbert, and Wegner, 2009, p. 226).

Negative reinforcement occurs when something undesirable is removed. It works to strengthen a behavior because a negative condition is stopped or avoided as a consequence of the behavior (Negative Reinforcement University, 1999). Positive reinforcement on the other hand is the presentation of something pleasant or rewarding immediately following a behavior. It makes that behavior more likely to occur in the future, and is one of the most powerful tools for shaping ones behavior (Positive Reinforcement: Training Your Dog or Cat with Treats and Praise, 2008).

Driving in heavy traffic is an example of negative reinforcement. Avoiding such traffic would be the negative condition that I wish to avoid. I left home earlier than usual one morning, and didn't run into heavy traffic. So again the next day I left home earlier and again I didn't run into heavy traffic. The behavior of leaving home earlier is strengthened by the consequence of my not running into heavy traffic. The avoidance of heavy traffic shaped my behavior in that I now leave earlier in the morning in order to avoid the negative heavy traffic.

A good example of positive reinforcement occurred one day when in class. The material that we were studying was particularly hard for me to comprehend and I was struggling with answering questions in class because I did not think that I knew what I was talking about. I answered one question correctly and the professor praised me for my correct answer. This allowed me to build the confidence to continue to volunteer to answer questions. The professor's positive reinforcement shaped my attitude about volunteering to answer questions, because of the immediate reward of praise that I received.

The ethical considerations that take place in operant conditioning are no different from those involved in any other form of therapy. The aim is to achieve the maximum benefit to patient and to society, giving carful consideration to the areas where the two might conflict. The primary ethical consideration must always be the well being of the patient and society as a whole (Miron, n.d.).

Operant conditioning and the shaping that occurs through its use of negative and positive reinforcers can be a very useful tool in changing a person's behavior. Because it is so different from other approaches and has a very high effective rate it is very important to make sure that it is well understood by those professionals that are carrying it out, so that it can be ensured that it is being done on a truly ethical basis. The ethical considerations that must be made must not only be for the individual patient but also for society as a whole. It has to be remembered that each patient will someday return to that society and must be able to function within it. Unethical behavior can damage both the individual and the society in which they are to return to. In the end unethical behavior can have a damaging effect on everyone that is involved. This kind of behavior should be avoided at all costs for everyone involved.

3. Which theory of psychological thought fits with your own thinking about psychology? Going back to Chapter 1, review the theories and discuss in detail how one or more theories help you to understand the roots of psychology. What have you learned about this theory or theories and how do they apply to your understanding of psychology?

The Humanistic theory fits my thinking about psychology because I believe that all human beings have a positive potential. The Humanistic theory was developed by psychologists Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. Basically it is an approach to understanding human nature that stresses the positive potential of humans. People are seen as free agents who have an inborn need to develop, grow and reach their full potential. This allows people to develop their self based upon what their individual potential is (Schater, Gilbert, and Wegner, 2009, pp.16-17).

The focus of the humanistic perspective is on the self, which focuses on you and your perception of your own experiences. This view argues that one is free to choose their own behavior, rather than reacting to environmental stimuli and reinforcers. Issues dealing with self-esteem, self-fulfillment, and needs are dominant. The major focus is to make possible personal development. This approach helps to explain how people develop their personalities and qualities (Humanistic Perspective, n.d.).

Carl Rogers felt that each person operated… READ MORE

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