Methods Paper
Learning Team B PSY 335
December 19, 2016
Methods Paper
The weather varies all over the world. Most, but not all states have four seasons, winter, summer, spring and autumn. Southern states usually have warmer climate temperatures and northern states have cooler climate temperatures. The closer a country is to the equator the more tropical the weather can be, leaving some regions to not have four seasons. Tropical areas of the world are commonly visited by those who enjoy spending their vacation in warmer weather. For someone who lives further away from the equator, experiencing cooler weather is normal.
Imagine growing up where it is always rainy or very cold. Playing with your friend outdoors is not much of an option. In this research that we are conducting, we generated a research question as follows, “Does the weather have an effect on adolescent mood and is this hereditary?” Our Hypothesis statement: We feel like the weather effects on our adolescent mind but it is not hereditary. As you read along we will take you on our journey of research with hopes of finding our hypothesis to be testable enough to design scientific experiments.
Population Sample, Procedures and Methods
A sample refers to participants that have the participated in the research for analysis purposes. Views from the selected population are sampled to provide a wider perspective on what the research is expected to conclude. Sample population often predicts the result of the unrepresented population in the study. The content of the study relates to weather and mood swings. The population sampled would agree that rainy weather results in a low spirit yet in sunny weather the subjects are in high spirit.
Adolescents were sampled for the study and their parents too. The amount of boys used in the study were five percent more than the girls at the adolescent’s stage. The main origin of the sample was of Caucasian Dutch descendants. The sample of the population selected for the study were internet savvy individuals who participated in the research online. Internet research ensured low cost of the research and the participants were well versed in the content they reported on. Time was of the essence; hence the sample picked had enough time to participate in the research since a majority of their time was not occupied on a full-time basis.
The sample picked was responsive to the research as there was no abnormal occurrence noticed during the research conducted. Individuals selected had different moods that would result in wider analysis of the selected research study.
As we mentioned in our introduction we believe that the weather does influence our moods, but we do not believe that this is hereditary. To find out if our hypothesis is correct we decided to conduct surveys and interviews. We passed out surveys in four different states and in different economic settings. We surveyed fifty participants.
The surveys consisted of 10 questions where the participant had to scale their answer from one to ten. One being unlikely and ten being highly likely. Some of the questions will be measured by stress levels, energetics and aggravation. Consistently ensuring to take note of the weather while developing our procedure was beneficial for our study, so that we did not run into null hypothesis.
The interviewees that we plan on utilizing are adolescents and their parents or guardian. Asking them similar questions as those in the interview, but giving the participants room to elaborate or be a little more descriptive with their answers. We hope to conduct interviews with the same participants during different seasons, asking them the same questions to see how their moods changed. In addition, we are hoping to find that the effect of the weather is not as great on our mood that we all thought it was.
Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
When we are analyzing the data from our research we wanted to carefully think of the ways we utilized descriptive statistics. Since we will be summarizing our data overall we want to compare the scores, while comparing and contrasting with other participants that are involved in the study. Using a chart from 1-10 based on emotions we can add up the number of sad, neutral and happy emotions based on the participants and their feelings regarding the weather. Age, region, and the sex of the participants will be in consideration when calculating the standard score. So therefore, we should have a second chart or diagram for the comparisons of sexes and their moods. This is how we plan on using inferential statistics (if needed); we can compare two different groups, male and female, and or adolescent between the ages of 5-11 and 12-18. It would be great if we could test participants regionally but the cost may be too high. The dependent variables will be measured categorically.
Dependent, Independent, and Control Variables
There are multiple variables present in this study. Participants, the weather, and time are all variables that influenced the study. Each variable is either dependent on another aspect in the study, independent of any other aspect, or a control that was not affected. Below are the variables present in our study.
According to Elmes, Kantowitz, and Roediger, III (2012); the experimenter can manipulate the independent variables, the dependent variables are observed and recorded by the experimenter, and the controlled variables are potentially independent variables that are held constant and do not change during the experiment. An example of an independent variable is altering the light of a room where the interview is being conducted. A dependent variable is the amount of time it takes to fill out a survey or answer a question which is observed and recorded by the experimenter. The control variables are controlled by the experimenter such as the temperature of the room where the survey is being administered or the room the interview is being conducted.
In our study, the independent variables are the interviews and surveys administered. These can be adapted and changed as needed by the experimenters. The dependent variables are the weather. The experimenter cannot modify the weather, only observe and document. The controlled variables are the time of the day that the interviews are being conducted or the surveys are administered. The experimenter also controls the temperature and lighting of the room.
Conclusion
After further research, we will determine if the
weather can have an effect on one’s mood. Some people are considered happier
when it is warm and sunny while others are happier when it is cloudy and
raining. Our hypothesis stated the weather can have an effect on one’s mood but
the influence on the participants’ mood was not a hereditary condition as the
participants were adolescents and their parents. The participants were given a
survey to rate their mood during specific seasons while the weather was
observed. The participants were then put in an interview setting and asked
similar questions. Our study consisted of independent, dependent, and control
variables to get consistent and accurate date.
Overall, we as a team feel that weather can have an effect on one’s mood
but that effect is not a hereditary response similar to the study done by Klimstra,
Frijns, and Keijsers.
References
Elmes, D. G., Kantowitz, B. H., & Roediger, H. L. III (2012). Research methods in psychology (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.
Klimstra, T.A., Frijns, T., & Keijsers, L. (2011, December). Come rain or come shine: Individual differences in how weather affects mood. Emotion, 11.6(), 1495-1499. Retrived from ProQuest Database: http://search.proquest.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/docview/884117764?pq...