In Lecture 3, we learned about the various different types of research that psychologists use to analyze and learn more about a myriad of various topics. Like many other scientists, psychologists love to experiment. However, there are many limitations that psychologists face when trying to come up with answers to solve the most difficult cases. That is where experimental research comes in. Experimental research makes up the backbone of most scientific research done in the psychological field, as well as in various other applications in the medical and everyday worlds. Experimental research is a great tool for researchers to use, but in order to reap the maximum benefits of it, it must be used correctly. Evidently, it is crucial to design your experiment in a way that a well-represented group of people can answer and fully understand without much difficulty.
In experimental research, the crucial element that makes or breaks studies is the concept of random sampling, which guarantees that any given person in a population has the same chance of being selected in a sample as anyone else does. This is important to note, because a sample that is hand-picked by the researcher (or skewed towards a certain demographic) can result in biased, and inaccurate results. Representing a population properly can go a long way in ensuring your results are unbiased and accurate. Many researchers look to use samples to demonstrate the characteristics of a given population, and a poorly represented sample can lead to inaccurate generalizations about the population. In addition to random sampling, there are other elements that researchers must pay attention to when creating their experiments. One of the most important aspects to watch out for is the wording of the questions asked. Surveys and experiments should be succinct, brief, and clear. Clarity is key in making sure that people accurately answer your questions or cues. In addition, experiments should utilize words and concepts that the respondents are familiar with. Wording means everything, and confusing verbiage can skew your results significantly. An example of this would be from class, when we discussed the 1992 Roper Poll in Lecture 3. The researchers asked the question, “Does it seem possible or does it seem impossible to you that the Nazi extermination of the Jews never happened?”. In this scenario, the results of the poll were quite shocking. 35% of respondents stated that it was possible that the Nazi extermination of the Jews never occurred. This is a textbook example of how wording can affect your results, as the people who answered this were quite confused by the verbiage, and didn’t quite understand exactly what the researchers were trying to ask. Simply, a majority of the people polled responded with that answer due to lack of understanding or confusion. A follow up poll conducted in 1994 proved that the respondents answered without a full and clear understanding of the question being asked, as the results were drastically different from the initial ones, thus showing the importance of ensuring a sample is easy to understand and analyze.