Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

54 Chapter 
2 
Psychological Research
If you were about to purchase an automobile, you would not 
likely stop at the nearest car dealership and drive off with the 
fi rst car a salesperson recommended. Instead, you would 
probably mull over the purchase, read about automobiles, 
consider the alternatives, talk to others about their experiences, 
and ultimately put in a fair amount of thought before you made 
such a major purchase. 
In contrast, many of us are considerably less conscientious when we expend our 
intellectual, rather than fi nancial, assets. People often jump to conclusions on the 
basis of incomplete and inaccurate information, and only rarely do they take the time 
to critically evaluate the research and data to which they are exposed. 
Because the fi eld of psychology is based on an accumulated body of research, we 
must scrutinize thoroughly the methods, results, and claims of researchers. Several 
basic questions can help us sort through what is valid and what is not. Among the most 
important questions to ask are these:
• What was the purpose of the research? Research studies should evolve from a clearly 
specifi ed theory. Furthermore, we must take into account the specifi c hypothesis 
that is being tested. Unless we know what hypothesis is being examined, we 
cannot judge how successful a study has been.
• How well was the study conducted? Consider who the participants were, how many 
were involved, what methods were employed, and what problems the researcher 
encountered in collecting the data. There are important differences, for example, 
between a case study that reports the anecdotes of a handful of respondents and 
a survey that collects data from several thousand people.
• Are the results presented fairly? Statements must be assessed on the basis of the 
actual data they refl ect and their logic. For instance, when the manufacturer of 
car X boasts that “no other car has a better safety record than car X,” this does not 
mean that car X is safer than every other car. It just means that no other car has 
been proved safer, though many other cars could be just as safe as car X. 
Expressed in the latter fashion, the fi nding doesn’t seem worth bragging about.
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