Research and Stats
It could be because I taught research and statistics for so many years, but I just think that research and stats can actually be interesting and fun. I hope you’ll think so too. It doesn’t have to be dull! Join me as I discuss some popular and interesting explorations into human behavior. Think of research and stats like a puzzle. There’s lots of popular episodes in this topic area. Check ‘em out!
Episodes
- Episode 115 (Video): Violent Video Games – What Does the Research Say?
Recent research on violent video games is pretty conclusive and you’re not going to like it: there’s good evidence that people if you play violent video games you might be less likely to a) notice aggressive events, b) perceive fewer or less severe injuries, c) feel less sympathy for violence victims, and d) have less negative attitudes towards violence. In this video I take a close look at this research.
- Episode 111: Evolutionary Psychology – David Buss Responds to Critics
There has been a lot of criticism of evolutionary psychology lately. How do researchers respond? One of the leading researchers in this field – Dr. David Buss of the University of Texas responds to these critics in part 1 of this 2 part episode. Find out how he responds to these questions: a) is evolutionary psychology sexist?, b) doesn’t evolutionary psychology just give people the ammunition they need to not take responsibility for themselves? c) theories from evolutionary psychology are not falsifiable, this it’s not scientific and d) human society is always changing – it hasn’t been stable enough long enough for any human behavior to have evolved.
- Episode 109: Correlation and Causation
Looking for examples of correlation and causation? You’ve heard it a million times: correlation doesn’t mean causation. Still need help? Well, here’s a humorous look at this topic that I think drives home the point. The Psych Files "Breaking News" explores whether satisfied workers are more productive and whether living together causes divorce. I hope you enjoy this unique video episode of The Psych Files.
- Episode 102: How to Create an Online Experiment on Eyewitness Testimony Accuracy
Want to create an online experiment? Here’s how to do it. I’ll show you how you can create an online experiment using Sproutbuilder and Google Forms. Using these two tools, you’ll be able to get creative and put together an experiment online that others all over the world can take.
- Episode 99: Animal Emotions – Does Your Pet Really Have Feelings?
Does your dog have thoughts and feelings? How about your cat? In this episode we find out what scientists have to say about how we should study this question. I also review a fascinating new study by Dr. Alexandra Horowitz of Barnard College who studied whether or not dogs who have that guilty look actually do feel guilty.
- Episode 98: Evolutionary Psychology – An Interview with Dr. David Buss
Do you know your own “mate value” in the dating world? Curious about evolutionary psychology? In this interview with Dr. David Buss we discuss a number of interesting and controversial topics, such as the matching hypothesis and date rape.
- Episode 78: The Psychology of Tipping
How can waiters increase their tips? Would you believe psychologists have devoted a great deal of research to this question? Join me as we take a look at what waiters and waitresses can do to increase the amount of the tip their customers give them.
- Episode 75: Science Proves Subliminal Tapes Work! Well….not really
Do subliminal messages in self-help tapes really work? There actually is some evidence that people can be influenced by subliminal messages. Can your self-esteem be raised with subliminal tapes? These questions answered once and for all at The Psych Files podcast.
- Episode 70: Coincidence or Synchronicity? You Be The Judge
In this episode of The Psych Files we explore strange coincidences like this one and we also examine Carl Jung's concept of Synchronicity. Does it mean that everything happens for a reason – or is the idea more complex than that?
- Episode 69: Personal Space Invasions – Ethical Implications of one of Psychology’s Strangest Studies
Remember the psychological study conducted in a men’s room? Think it was silly? Unethical? Let’s revisit this study and take a close look at what the critics say and what the authors themselves have to say in response. A fascinating look at the ethics and history of research in psychology.
- Episode 64: A Scientist Goes Looking for a Self Help Book….
Self Help books: why are there so many out there? How do you choose? Can they cure depression? Help you lose weight? Stop smoking? Here’s a list of the top 14 things that really bother psychologists about self-help books.
- Episode 63: Cognitive Dissonance, the Monty Hall Problem and a Possible Resolution?
Cognitive Dissonance – one of the most established and respected theories in psychology – is under attack. An economist – M. Keith Chen – uses what is called the “Monty Hall problem” to show that the research on cognitive dissonance may be seriously flawed.
- Episode 61: The Mozart Effect – Is There Anything To It? Part 2
This is part 2 of my interview with Dr. Kenneth Steele of Appalachian State University on his research on the so-called Mozart Effect. Listen to Dr. Steele talk about how rats were brought into the lab to listen to Mozart as well as, believe it or not, Philip Glass.
- Episode 59 – The Mozart Effect: Is There Anything To It?
The Mozart Effect – almost everyone has heard about it, but is there really anything to it? Can the Mozart Effect increase your child’s IQ? In part one of my interview with one of the leading researchers and critics of the Mozart Effect – Dr. Kenneth Steele – you get the real story behind the hype.
- Episode 55: Is It Really Better to Give Than to Receive?
It’s time to scientifically answer the question: is it better to give than to receive? Psychologists have recently examined the relationship between happiness and charitable giving. Will you be happier if you donate money rather than spend it on yourself?
- Episode 54: Math Anxiety – Causes and Cures
Could it be that the roots of math anxiety lie not with math itself but with the way math is taught? I speak with Dr. Eugene Geist, specialist in early childhood education. We talk about math anxiety – how it develops and what can be done to help kids overcome it.
- Episode 52 (video): Research Design Part 2 – Factorial Designs
Need to understand how factorial designs work? This video is for you. In this episode I show how a two factorial research design works using an interesting topic: physical attractiveness.
- Episode 50: Psychological Study Ripped Straight from….the Bible?
How many scientific studies find their inspiration from a parable in the bible? I’ll go over a very interesting study based on the Good Samaritan parable. Are people more likely to help someone if they are thinking “pious” thoughts at the time?
- Episode 45: Basic Research Design – Part 1
Independent variables, dependent variables, t-tests, anovas, experiments, between subjects, within subjects, confounds…confused? You won’t be after you watch this week’s video episode. Learn research methods in psychology the fun way.
- Episode 39: Mashups and the Future of Psychological Research
Have you heard about Mashups? What do they have to do with psychology? In this video I�ll show you how to use RSS feeds, Google Reader, and Yahoo Pipes to create a mashup that searches the web for the very latest information on psychological terms.
