for Teachers for Schools for Enterprise ®Study.comM Plans courses credit. degrees schools What is Research? - Definition, Purpose & Typical Researchers Lesson Transcript Psychological research helps ta shape our society - fram the way we raise our children tothe way we treat our criminals and miltary enemies. Whats research and who conducts it This lesson explores the purposes of research in psychology and the individuals who observe, record, and alter our behavior. Research Definition Research is a careful and detalled study into a specific problem, concern, or issue using the scientific method. I's the adult form of the science fal projects back n elementary school, where you try and learn something by performing an experiment, This 's best accomplished by turning the issue into a question, with the intent of the research to answer the question, Research can be about anything, and we hear about al different types of research in the news. Cancer research has ‘Breakthrough Cancer-Kiling Treatment Has No Side Effects in Mice, and "Baby Born with HIV Cured. Each of these began with an issue ora problem (such as cancer or HM}, and they had a question, lke, ‘oes medication X reduce cancerous tissue or HV infections? But all ve sald so far is what research has done (sat of lke saying baking leads to apple ple; it doesn't really tel you anything other than the two are connected) To begin researching something, you have to have a problem, concern, or ise that has turned Into a question. These can come from observing the word, prior research, professional literature, or from peers. Research realy begins with the right question, because your {question must be answerable, Questions ike, How can I cure cancer? aren't really answerable with a study. I's too vague and not testableHaving a question creates an internal state of | need to knaw something,’ To continue the baking example, this internal state of wanting something. is like having 2 hankering for apple pe, Since you are reading this ina psychology section, we will put a psychological slant on ths, and hopefully lose some of che baking metaphors, Purpose of Psychological Research Psychological researchers want to learn and understand human behavior. can be about how people think, how they feel, how they behave, or some combination ofthese issues. Research, and the understanding that fellows, trickles down from the sclentists and alters socety. There Is constant and competing research. For example, about whatis the best way to punish and rehabiltate criminals (such as Zimbardo’s prison experiment, the best and worst ways to raise children (Bowlby and attachment, Spock and children), and how to treat the mentally ill (with too ‘many to count). More specifcaly, psychological research is used to measure, describe, and categorize human behavior, This can resultin understanding what ‘might be called normal benavior. More interesting and mare often researched are the abnormal behaviors, those that eventually become categorized and labeled with a diagnosis. A diagnosis is a constellation of common behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that occur together, Far example, many people suffer from depression, and research has found that exercise, psychotropic medication, and therapy have reduced and sometimes eliminated the feclings of sadness, gull, and worthlessness that come from depression, Example of Research and the Scientific Method Research begins with an issue that comes from an observation, Lets say | am walking dowm the street and see two pigeans siting at wo different windows. Im weird so Il call he fist pigeon Stu and the second pigeon Bil When I walk past Stu the pigeon, see him pecking at the lass When | walk past Bll the pigeon | see him just sitting there, chilling ike pigeons do. So, formulate a question: Why is Stu the pigeon pecking tt 5s, while Bill the pigeon does not?’ Next, I should do a litle research into pigeons and why they might peck at things. This is background research to help me understand what | amp looking for oat. Next, | have ta figure out how to answer my question. There are many ways a question can be answered; mast psychological studies use laboratory experiments or naturalistic studies, which will be explored in more in depth in another lesson, | plan on observing Stu and Bill every day | walk past tnem to answer my question. It isnt the most elegant or accurate study, butt shoul give me an answer. I create 2 hypothesis, which is lke creating a prediction of what | thinks happening: that Stu is being fed while Bills notRegister for a free trial Are you a student or a teacher? What is Research? - Definition, Purpose & Typical Researchers Related Study Materials Related | Recently Updated Popular Explore Subjects Create an account to start this course Create An today ‘Account Try it free for § days! .