An Examination of Key Methodologies in Psychological Research

This assignment provides an overview of psychological research methods, starting with the scientific method, which includes hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and conclusion analysis. It differentiates between theories and hypotheses, highlighting the importance of experimental validation. The assignment also discusses correlation and experimental research, explaining correlation coefficients and their significance in determining linear relationships between variables. Examples of positive and negative correlations are provided, along with naturalistic observation examples, such as animal behavior studies in natural environments. Furthermore, it delves into psycho physiological methods like MRI and CT scans for analyzing brain activity, distinguishes between independent and dependent variables, and compares field studies with experimental studies. The assignment also touches on the impact of various stimulants on neurotransmitter release and introduces process and project models used in structured analysis and simulation projects. Desklib offers more resources for students.

1)Scientific method includes the (I) includes the formulation of a hypothesis or theory (ii) conduction of
experiments and finding values in support of hypothesis or theory (iii)analyzing and giving conclusion
and results after the conduction of experiments.
2)Theory--It consists of mechanisms and points which have been tested experimentally in laboratories
and validated accordingly whereas the hypothesis is only a scientific definition about the occurrence of a
scientific mechanism which has no real significance as it has been not validated experimentally in labs.
3) Correlation research--It is a set of association of important variables and values used in experimental
scientific formula along with statistical values. Experimental research--it includes the analysis of values
after the conduction of experiments on scientific machines.
4) Correlation coefficient--It tells us the linear relationship between different values x and y in terms of
standard deviation from a mean set of values. Further linear lines and graphs are plotted to analyze the
equations and predict their values which satisfy the equation.
5) Example of positive correlation includes the values which increase as the other values increase as in
the case of demand and supply, income, expenditure, gain, credit and profit, loss and debit.
Example of negative correlation includes the examples where the value of one variable increases as the
value of other variable decreases for example--As temperature increases, air cooling with the help of
coolers is less due to more heat in the surroundings.
6)Some examples of naturalistic observation--It is the experimental observation and analysis of
psychological situations that occur in their natural way in the environment like the behavior of animals
in forests or behavior, brooding and singing of birds in their natural habitat and environment without
disturbance.
7) Psycho physiological methods include the methods which include the analysis of thoughts and
perceptions present inside the different parts of brain of a particular person during particular situations.
The methods used for the analysis of these situations include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and
computerized topographic scanning (CT-scan).
8) Independent variables are important values which are constant and do not change as the experiment
is performed and their values remain the same in the formula being tested experimentally whereas
dependent variables include the values which change constantly in the formula being tested and depend
upon the factors which govern the working of scientific machines.
9) Field study--includes the collection of samples from fields where plants grow and analysis of their
characteristic parameters along with the detailed study and analysis of samples.
Experimental study--It includes the study of scientific mechanisms based on machines in the laboratories
with a designed set of parameters to study the experimental findings and values are obtained
accordingly.
10) Psychological research includes some of the parameters that affect the release and secretion of
dopamine, acetylcholine, gamma amino butyric acid, serotonin, histamine and melatonin upon exposure

to various kinds of stimulants like severe environmental conditions, excessive stress and anxiety,
ultraviolet radiation and allergic response in the body respectively.
The process model is typically used in structured analysis and design methods. Also called a data flow
diagram (DFD), it shows the flow of information through a system. Each process transforms inputs into
outputs.
The model generally starts with a context diagram showing the system as a single process connected to
external entities outside of the system boundary. This process explodes to a lower level DFD that divides
the system into smaller parts and balances the flow of information between parent and child diagrams.
Many diagram levels may be needed to express a complex system. Primitive processes, those that don't
explode to a child diagram, are usually described in a connected textual specification.
A Project Model is a file created by a simulation user in a project for a particular simulator. It is a binary
file that contains the following elements:
Classes defined by the simulation developer,
Component objects with data for creating parts and links,
Reference objects with data referred to by other objects, parts or links,
Unit objects extensible by the user for unit conversion,
A model configuration with parts and links in an assembly hierarchy or just at the top assembly level,
Specifications for simulation result logging,
Parameters for controlling simulation runs in assimilation control object, and
Case parameters for multiple case runs.