In Week 2 Discussion your task is to develop ideas for studying a psychological question that interests you. You will be asked to state a topic focus, potential variables involved, hypothesis, operational definitions, potential participants, possible method of study, statistical method to analyze data, and a reference to a published research article that has content relevant to your topic.
When you reply to the posts of classmates, make comments that help them flesh out their ideas.
EXAMPLE;
Topic Focus: relationship between political orientation (conservative or liberal) and willingness to practice Covid-19 preventative restrictions (masking, social distancing, etc.)
Variables involved: political orientation, willingness to practice preventative measures.
Hypothesis:The more politically liberal an individual is, the more willing that person will be to practice preventative measures.
Operational definitions: For political orientation: Pew Political Typology Quizhttps://www.pewresearch.org/politics/quiz/political-typology/ For willingness to practice preventative measures: Self-created survey.
Potential participants:Convenience sample of 100 college students participating in online psychology classes.
Possible method: Administer the two scales (Political orientation, attitude toward preventative practices) to participants.
Statistical analysis of data: Use Pearson Product-Moment Correlation to determine degree of relation between political orientation and willingness to practice preventative measures.
Relevant article:Hasson, Y., Tamir, M., Kea, S., Brahms, J., Cohrs, C., & Halperin, E. Are liberals and conservatives equally motivated to feel empathy toward others?Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 44(10), XXXXXXXXXX.