I. Finding a research question:

• A. Sources:
• 1. Observations of self and others.
• 2. Previous research.
• 3. Theoretical predictions.
• B. A good question: interesting, precise, novel.
• C. Types of questions:
• 1. Descriptive.
• 2. Causal.

II. Finding subjects

• A. Convenience samples:
• 1. Opportunity for detailed research.
• 2. May not be representative of the population relevant to the research question.
• B. Representative samples:
• 1. Representative of a larger population.
• 2. Expensive; usually limited in what one has time to do.

III. Finding a Research Design

• A. Correlational designs
• 1. From +1 to -1.
• 2. Correlations within a single subject.
• 3. Correlations across subjects.
• 4. Correlation is NOT causation:
• X may lead to Y;
• Y may lead to X;
• Z may lead to both X and Y.

III. Finding a design (cont.):

• B. Experimental designs:
• 1. Investigating cause-and-effect.
• 2. Experimental control over the independent variable.
• 3. Effects on the dependent variable.
• 4. Limitations on what can be manipulated.

III. Finding a design (cont.):

• C. Single-subject designs:
• 1. Reversal designs: ABA.
• a. Need for extended control; ethical problems
• 2. Multiple baseline designs.
• a. Behavioral overlap across settings

III. Finding a design (cont.):

• D. Developmental designs:
• 1. Cross-sectional designs:
• a. The Class of 1952 versus the Class of 1987.
• b. Is it age or different, historically determined experiences?
• 2. Longitudinal designs:
• a. The Class of 1952 for the next thirty years.
• b. But would the same things happen to the Class of 1987 if
• we studied them for thirty years.
• c. Subject attrition in longitudinal designs.
• 3. Retrospective designs:
• a. Looking backward.
• b. Problems in remembering.

IV. Finding a setting

• A. Laboratory versus home:
• 1. Behavior is different in different settings.
• 2. Laboratory: Control over irrelevant factors; artificial behavior.
• 3. Home: more natural behavior; less control over irrelevant factors.
• B. Approach to data collection:
• 1. Naturalistic/unstructured.
• 2. Controlled/structured.

IV. Finding a setting (cont.):

• C. Within a structured approach:
  "real" versus "as if":
• 1. Real behavior may occur only infrequently.
• 2. Ethical issues.
• 3. "As if" behavior:
• a. Role-play studies.
• b. Simulation studies.

V. Collecting data

• A. Self-report data:
• 1. Characteristics:
• a. Concurrent versus retrospective.
• b. Global versus specific.
• c. Subjective versus objective.

V. Collecting self-report data:

• 2. Advantages:
• a. Finding out about the meaning of events
• b. Inexpensive
• 3. Disadvantages:
• a. Subjects may not understand the experimenter's terms
• b. Difficulty in remembering
• c. Distortions in remembering
• 1. Social desirability

V. Collecting data (cont.):

• B. Observational data:
• 1. Who observes: trained observers? "ordinary people"?
• 2. Observer reliability.
• 3. Methods of observation:
  live; audio, and/or video recordings.
• 4. The duration of observation:
• a. Time-sampling.
• 5. Types of data collection:
• a. Narratives: rich in detail but low in reliability.
• b. Ratings: global, subjective judgments.
• c. Codings: specific, objective recordings.
• d. Sequence: observing interactions.

V. Collecting data (cont.):

• 6. Advantages of Observational data:
• a. Obtaining an objective picture of reality.
• b. Avoiding misinterpretation, forgetting, and bias.
• 7. Disadvantages of Observational data:
• a. Are we missing the psychological reality?
• b. Expensive.
• c. Reactivity.

V. Collecting data (cont.):

• C. Couples' reports:
• 1. Combination of self-reports and observations.
• 2. Lack of reliability.

VI. Analyzing Data

• A. The problem of aggregation.
• B. Statistical significance.
• C. The need for replication.

VII. Being ethical:

• A. All research on intimate relationships may have long-lasting effects on subjects and their relationships.
• 1. New awareness of relationship factors.
• 2. Discussions with the partner about the research experience.

VII. Being ethical (cont.):

• B. Safeguarding the welfare of subjects:
• 1. Making sure procedures are not harmful.
• 2. Obtaining informed consent.
• 3. Providing prompt feedback about the subjects'
• experiences in the research.
• 4. Providing a report of the results of the research.
• 5. Providing information about the availability of
• couples' counseling.

THE END!