Research Methods in

Psychology
MARIAM HAFEEZ
LECTURER
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES
What is Research?

 The scientific method of gathering and analyzing

information that enables us to test an idea or
hypothesis.
 Two major types of research.
1. Qualitative Research
2. Quantitative Research
Qualitative Research

 Qualitative Research is primarily exploratory research.

 It is used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons,
opinions, and motivations.
 It provides insights into the problem or helps to develop ideas
or hypotheses for potential quantitative research.
 It is rich thick description to gather non-numerical data.
 Quantitative Research

 Quantitativeresearch is the systematic empirical

investigation of observable phenomena via statistical,
mathematical, or computational techniques.
 For example …………….
 Process of Scientific Research?

Issue to be
researched
(Prediction)
Hypothesis

Research
method
Analysis and
Results

Conclusion
1. Prediction:

 An expected outcome of how variables will relate.

2. Hypothesis:

 A proposed explanation made on the basis of limited

evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
 2 types of hypothesis
1. Predictive Hypothesis
2. Causal Hypothesis
 Predictive Hypothesis
 An educated guess about the relationship among variable.
 No manipulation of variables.
 Conclusions of such researches states how variables are related to each other.
 For example … Bacterial growth may be affected by temperature.
 Causal Hypothesis
 An educated guess about how one variable will influence another variable.
 It can be tested only when the researcher is able to manipulate the main study
variables.
 For example ………………….
Sampling

 Population:
 The people that could be studied for the given hypothesis is the
population of interest.
 Sampling:
 The process of selecting subjects from the population of interest is
called sampling while the subjects are the sample of the study.
3. Types of Research Methods

1. Observation (Naturalistic) Research

2. Case Study Method Research
3. Survey Research
4. Co-relational Research
5. Experimental Research
 Observational Research

 The research conducted in the environment in which the

behavior typically occurs.
 Caution:
 Reactivity: which means that presence of the researcher in the
situation might affect the overt behavior of the sample and
observations might not be reliable or true.
Case Study

 In depth observation of a single subject.

 The subject may be a person, animal, or even a setting
such as school.
 Lacks generalizability (how well a researcher findings
apply to other individuals and situations.
Co-relational Research
Ethical Issues in Psychological
Research

1. Informed Consent
2. Confidentiality
3. Debriefing