Bias and Ensure the Validity of the Results - Essay Example

Psychology Describe one of the research methods that psychologists use. What kinds of questions can you answer with that method? What kinds of conclusions can you made using that method. What things must be in place to control bias and insure the validity of the results? Answer: Psychologists use many research methods for the collection and analysis of data. One of the reliable methods is the ‘case study’ which was developed by Harvard University School of Business. In this method, descriptive research approach is employed for the analysis of a phenomenon, person or group. Archival records, direct observation, interviews and psychometric tests are techniques which are used in case study method. The method is normally used in clinical research to examine unusual events which are contradictory to the recognized principles of psychology (Christensen 1994). Case study method leads towards variety of conclusions as contextual analysis and extensive description of complex personalities or phenomena are made during the research. The method elaborates why a particular event happens and what will be happened in the similar situations. Biased approached in psychological research can twists the results. Researchers enumerate three types of biases including, experimental, subject and sampling. Double-blind method is the best to avoid the variable of bias. Under this method, neither the subject nor the experimental identifies which subjects relate to experimental group and which are from the control group. Work Cited Christensen, L. B. (1994).“Experimental methodology"( 6th ed).,Simon & Schuster: Needham Heights, MA 2. Critically evaluate the following statement: “most people use only 10 % of their brain.” What do you think? What evidence is there to support your view? Answer: Motivational speakers and teachers, while stressing the need of contemplation, normally state that “most people use only 10 % of their brain”. They also quote Albert Einstein for the revelation of this scientific phenomenon. In my opinion, it is an urban legend which emerged from the writings of Harvard psychologist, William James, who states in his book titled, “The Energies of Men” in 1908: “We are making use of only a small part of our possible mental and physical resources”. Neuroscientists rejected this myth on the basis of their scientific research and presented a number of counter-arguments against it. Personally, I agree with them as they have strong empirical evidences to debunk this myth. The scanning of brain images shows that all regions and spheres of mind are active during the routines tasks of speaking, listening and pondering. Dr. Rachel C. Vreeman and Dr. Aaron E. Carroll in a study of medical myths writes: “Numerous types of brain imaging studies show that no area of the brain is completely silent or inactive and detailed probing of the brain has failed to identify the ‘non-functioning’ 90 percent”. Moreover, it is a well-documented scientific fact that human brain uses 20 % energy of the body and it is quite astonishing if it utilizes only 10 % of its total potential by taking a lion’s share of energy from other parts of the body. Work Cited Vreeman, R. C. & Carroll, A. E. (2007). Medical myths. BMJ, 33, 1328. 3. From a scientific perspective, what are some of the problems in accepting claims of ESP abilities or experiences? What do you think? Why? Answer: Extrasensory perception is also called the “sixth sense”. Normally, a human being receives all kind of information through five physical senses namely: sight, touch, hearing, taste and smell. But through extrasensory perception; the route of information is beyond these five senses. The term was coined by a psychologist of Duke University, J. B. Rhine to justify psychic capabilities like clairaudience, telepathy and clairvoyance (Rhine 1934). Parapsychology is a field that studies paranormal phenomena; thus ESP falls under its domain and most of them reject ESP due to lack of evidences, absence of a theoretical framework of ESP and dearth of experimental techniques that provide authentic results. Therefore, ESP is labeled as pseudoscience. The major problem with the ESP is that it cannot be proved through scientific method of the present time. Sciences only approve concrete and material evidences through an approved procedure but EST does not meet the criteria of science because it originates from the abstract ideology. In my personal opinion, extrasensory perception exists in human being. Christian and Jews mysticism, Gotam Buddha’s wisdom, Plato’s revelations and pyramids of Egypt are sufficient to accept the claims of ESP. Work Cited Rhine, J. B. (1934). "Extra-sensory perception of the clairvoyant type". Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology 29 (2): 151–171 4. What role do experience, prior beliefs and assumptions play in perception? Give specific examples to illustrate your point. Answer: The word perception is derived from the Latin word perceptio or percipio. “Perception is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the environment” (James 2003). It is believed that perception engages with nervous system through signals, which reciprocates five senses with physical and chemical stimulation. Perception is not recipient of signals from nervous system but also shaped by attention, memory, expectation and learning. Prior beliefs, experiences and assumption play a major role in shaping perception. The hypothesis can be proved through the through the following example of pain. Pain is not produced through an automatic process of stimulation instead some other factors also contribute to its severity like i. Expectations: According to recent research, expectation of a person about the damaging nature of an object can determine the perception of pain. Melzack believes that perceiving something dangerous can lead better preparation for tackling it. Child birth under Lamaze method is one of the examples. Moreover, placebo effect is another impressive example of perception. ii. Personality: Negative personalities feel more pain. For example, a tense person may suffers muscle or back pains. Work Cited Pomerantz, James R. (2003): "Perception: Overview". In: Lynn Nadel (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science, Vol. 3, London: Nature Publishing Group, pp. 527–537. 5. Contrast Freud’s explanation of the significance of dreams with that of the activation synthesis model of dreaming. What do think dreams are for? Why? What does the evidence suggest? Answer: Sigmund Freud was a popular psychoanalyst, who wrote extensively on the various dimensions of dreams. For a long period, his book titled “The Interpretation of Dreams” has been considered an authority on the subject. He developed a ‘theory of unconscious’ to interpret dreams and later it transformed into the ‘theory of Oedipus complex’. According to him, dreams are kinds of “wish fulfillment” which are attempted by unconscious. Preconscious is considered more relaxed during sleep, so unconscious distorts the information to deceive it. He developed a theory named, “phenomenon of condensation” which denotes that images of dreams have multiple meanings for a dreamer (Peter 1989). On the other hand, activation synthesis model of dreaming was presented by psychiatrists of Harvard University, John Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley. They offered neurobiological theory of dreams which was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in the year 1977. The theory considers dreams as a biological phenomenon devoid of any significant meanings for dreamer. In my personal opinion, the activation synthesis model of dreaming cannot be negated as it has scientific evidences but the claims of Freud can also not be rejected. The science has not developed the potential yet to describe the ‘phenomena of abstract’ and only revolves around the matter which is not the reality of the universe. Work Cited Gay, Peter edit. Freud, Sigmund author The Freud Reader WW Norton New York 1989 pages 142-142. 6. Should marijuana be considered a psychedelic drug along with mescaline and LSD? Why or why not? Do you think marijuana should continue to be illegal in this country? Why or why not? Please support your answer with evidence. Answer: Marijuana is the name of a drug which is prepared from Cannabis sativa. Its strength has been increased ten times since 1970s. It has many negative and positive effects on human body and mind. The United Nations estimated that 162 million people (4 % of adult world population) use cannabis on annual basis and 22.5 million people (0.6%) use it daily. Researchers discovered many advantages and disadvantages of using marijuana due to which many countries of the world including the United States declared it illegal and on the other hand it is being used freely in many parts of the world. As far as its advantages are concerned, it is stated that use of marijuana can lessen the chances of cancer. Researchers of California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco claimed in 2007 that it kills the cancer cell while leaving alive the healthy one. Moreover, other benefits of the use marijuana are growth of brain cell, anti-suicidal, anti-depression and ease of the pain of multiple sclerosis. On the other hand, its use can lead towards brain abnormalities, deformation of sperm cells, hereditary defects and pre-natal births (Clint 2008). Keeping in view the uses and abuses of marijuana, it should continue to be illegal in the country as its disadvantages are more than its advantages. Work Cited Randall Clint Baselt (2008). Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man. Biomedical Publications. pp. 1513–1518 Read More