Research Psychologists are doing more and more of their research studies on the internet. For this assignment you are to choose one of the hundreds of research studies currently being done on the internet, and put yourself into it by participating as a subject. The link below will lead you to many such studies. Use the URL below to access the research studies site provided by Hanover College.
After participating in the study, answer these questions. Use what you learned about psychological research in Chapter 2 to help you think critically about this study.
1. Describe the study and describe what you did as a subject in the study. Be specific and thorough.
2. Describe what you think the psychologists are trying to prove or discover through the study. What do you believe is the "hypothesis" of the study?
3. Do you think the psychologists are getting a representative sample? Why or Why not? Does it matter in this case?
4. Which of the four "goals" of psychology does this study seem to be trying to achieve? What is your reason for this?
5. What is your overall evaluation of this research study? What seems to be its weaknesses? Its strengths? What do you base your decision on? Given what Chapter 2 says about ethics in psychological research, do you think this research is ethical? Why or why not? Does it seem to violate any of the ethical guidelines mentioned toward the end of the chapter? Is the method of research (survey design) appropriate for the research goals?
Your answers should be well thought out, well written, and completely address all the questions above.