Empirical Research Activities CD ROM

Subject: Psychology
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 16 - 18
Order Number: 19000

This PowerPoint presentation provides a dynamic and interactive way of introducing the psychological concepts and procedures behind empirical research activities. Video footage illustrates the basic types of observation, and students are shown six standard empirical research activities being undertaken. An audio commentary consolidates the information on screen and internet links provide access to further information on the works of psychologist like Piaget, Muller and Lyer. Linked as it is to activity sheets, the Empirical Research Activities are as follows:

• Measuring Individual Differences provides students with an understanding of individual differences within a particular age group. An important aspect of this activity is that it provides students with an opportunity to practice organisation of data.
• Conservation Skills in Children tests one aspect of the development of children's thinking - that is the skill of conservation.
• Imaging and memorising looks at cognitive functioning and the ability to retain information learned under different conditions is addressed.
• Measuring Auditory Thresholds concerns sensory perception. The basic function of any sensory system is to ascertain the changes in the external environment. Finding parameters at which a stimulus can be consciously perceived tests the limits of perception.
• The Muller Lyer Effect is an illusion. Experience has conditioned our senses to predict certain outcomes from particular stimuli. Sometimes, however, we are deceived and our perceptual systems will lead us to draw incorrect conclusions.
• The Zeigarnik Effect studies an aspect of memory, in particular, the ability to recall tasks or problems that have been interrupted as opposed to those that have been completed without interruption.

Finally, the methodology of report writing is outlines with practical examples provided in attached worksheets.