Department of Psychology

International Islamic University

Malaysia
PSYC 2999 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
COURSEWORK 1(b) (5 MARKS)
Student name: Sharifah Munirah Syed Yahaya
Section:

1129292

Exercise 1(b)

This exercise is individually based. Student is required to answer all of the

following questions.
1. Go to a relatively busy area of your college campus and observe some
aspect of human behavior. Briefly describe your observations. Based
on these observations, write a research question that could be tested.
Also, write a specific hypothesis.
(3 marks)
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2. Case Analysis
A researcher wonders how well the sense of smell functions during
sleep. In general, we know that our sensory systems operate at a
higher threshold during sleep. That is, a more intense stimulus is
required to elicit a response during sleep than during wakefulness.
Furthermore, we are less responsive during some stages of sleep than
during others. Experiments using sounds suggest that we are less
responsive during stages 3 and 4 sleep (deep sleep) than during stages
1, 2, or REM sleep (lighter sleep). Thus, the 4 16 researcher predicts
that research participants will be less responsive to odors during
stages 3 and 4 sleep than during the other stages of sleep. The
researcher devises a system for delivering odors while college students
sleep in the laboratory. Peppermint fragrance is delivered at specific
times through a modified oxygen mask that the students wear while
they sleep. Electrodes are attached to each students scalp, face, and
chin to determine sleep staging. Electrodes are also attached to each
students chest to record heart rate. A change in heart rate following
presentation of the odor is used to indicate that the participant
detected the odor.
Critical Thinking Questions

1. Write the research problem.

(1 mark)
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2. Write the research objective(s)
(2
marks)
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3. What is the research hypothesis(es)?
(2
marks)
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4. What is the independent variable?
(1
mark)
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5. What is the dependent variable?
(1
mark)
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