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Reading the Research: Lecture Notes
When you come into the classroom:
MALES please sit on the LEFT side of the room
FEMALES please sit on the RIGHT side of the room
What do you want in a date?
- What do men want in an ideal partner?
- What do women want in an ideal partner?
Real Personal Ads
Seeking mature, warm, intelligent, professionally stable Toronto-based 35-40 year old Jewish male ... single, petite, 35 year old Jewish female...
Single? Sincere? Open to new possibilities? ... 42 year old SWM seeks 25-40 year old SWF...
Perspectives on Dating
- Cultural Perspective
North American culture
Men older and wiser
Women younger and pretty
- Evolutionary Perspective
All cultures
Men providers
Women fertile
Both perspectives make same predictions for adults, what about adolescents?
Sources of Information
Primary source
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Report of empirical research
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Technical report
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Lab report
Secondary source
-
Review paper
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Position paper
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Textbook
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Newsbrief
Why read Primary Sources?
Get it from the horseís mouth
Construct own knowledge
Form own interpretations
Goals of Undergraduate Psychology
Learn to inquire about causes and
effects
Know and apply research methods
Develop skepticism about explanations
and conclusions
Acquire and practice critical analysis
skills
Parts of a Report of Empirical
Research
Title, authors, affiliation
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Title, Authors, Affiliation
Title summarizes the main idea
Authors and affiliation
Provide a potential indication of
quality
Allow contact
Abstract
Short summary of the entire article:
Objective
Methods
Results
Importance
Read for an overview of the research
Introduction
Introduction of the problem
Review of the literature
Statement of purpose and rationale
Method
Essential for evaluating approach
to the research question(s)
Help determine reliability and validity
of the results
Components:
Participants
Apparatus/Materials
(Design)
Procedure
Results
Summary of data collected and statistical
treatment
Tables and figures
Statistical presentation
Discussion
Authorsí evaluation and interpretation
of the results
Implications and generalizations
References
Reference citations document statements
made about the literature
Useful for obtaining further information
Reading strategy
Read Abstract, look up unfamiliar
terms
Read Introduction, look for research
questions
Read Method, understand what was done
Skim Results, study figures and tables
Read Discussion, evaluate scientific
merit
Reading the Research
Designed to help students learn how
to read and critically evaluate reports of empirical research
Introduction to the task
Summary of the report
Factual questions
Critical thinking questions
Kenrick, D.T.,
Keefe, R.C., Gabrielidis, C., & Cornelius, J.S. (1996). Adolescentsí
age preferences for dating partners: Support for an evolutionary
model of life-history strategies. Child Development, 67, 1499-1511.
Read, work through the module
Particularly critical critical thinking
questions:
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Is this research important? (Introduction)
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Can the results be used to answer the
research questions? (Results)
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