Research

Methods
 Key Points
• What is empirical research?
• What is the scientific method?
• How do psychologists conduct research?
• What are some important ethical
considerations in conducting psychological
research?
 The Scientific Method
• Step by step process for guiding research
• Provides an objective, systematic
framework for research
• Cyclical
 Steps of the Scientific Method
1. Review the literature
2. Formulate a testable hypothesis
3. Design the study and collect the data
4. Analyze the data and accept or reject the
hypothesis
5. Publish, replicate and seek scientific
review
6. Theory building
 Step 1:Reviewing the literature
• What research has been done in this area?
• What are the current theories?
• Consult scientific journals only.
• What can my research add to the current
knowledge?
 Step 2: Formulate a testable
hypothesis
• Develop a specific prediction related to the
area of interest
• Must be “testable”
 Step 3: Design the study and
collect the data
• How can you test your hypothesis?
• What type of study can be done?
• Collect data
 Step 4: Analyze the data and
accept or reject hypothesis
• Depending on the type of study conducted,
you may use statistics to analyze the data
• Does data support or negate the
hypothesis?
• Proving the hypothesis incorrect is not a
failure
 Step 5: Publish, replicate and
seek scientific review
• Share data to expand current knowledge
• Conduct the experiment again to see if
results are consistent
• Seek critical evaluation from professional
peers
 Step 6: Theory Building
The Cycle continues
• Good research stimulates additional
research
• Encourages growth in our knowledge
 Scientific Method vs. research
design
• The scientific method outlines the steps
used in any type of study
• The research design describes the type of
study conducted
 Research Designs
• The range of research questions in
psychology requires a range of options for
conducting research
• You are not always in a position to control
the variables of interest
• Every design has advantages and
disadvantages
 Who will be in the study?
• Population - the entire group of people of
interest to the researcher (who should the
results apply to?)

• Sample - the actual participants in the study,

representative of the population
 Types of Research Designs
• Experimental research
• Correlational research
• Surveys, questionnaires
• Observations
• Case Studies
 The Experiment
• Only type of study that allows for statement
of cause and effect
• Experimenter has degree of control over
key variables not possible in other research
designs
 Characteristics of experimental
research
• Independent and dependent variables
• Experimental and control groups
• Random assignment to groups
 Independent and dependent
variables
• Dependent Variable - what is being
measured in the experiment to determine
the effect of the independent variable?
• Independent variable - what is the
experimenter manipulating in the
experiment?
Experimental and control groups
• Experimental group - participants in the
study who are exposed to the independent
variable
• Control group - “comparison group”,
participants in the study who do not
experience the independent variable
• NOTE: participants are randomly assigned
to these groups
Experimental Research Cautions
• Experimenter Bias - occurs when the
experimenter’s own expectations influence
the outcome of the research
• Research Participant Bias - reflects research
participants’ beliefs about how they are
expected to behave
 Correlational Research
• Examines the relationship between two
variables
• Cannot establish that one variable causes
the other, just that they are related
• Relies on statistical analysis
• Strength of relationship measured from -1.0
to +1.0
• Positive, negative or zero?
 Case studies
• Descriptive data about an individual
• Helpful in obtaining data about rare cases
• Generalization is limited
 Observations
• Naturalistic - occurs in the natural setting

• Laboratory - occurs in a controlled setting

 Surveys/questionnaires
• Very common form of research
• Capable of collecting large amounts of data
• Measures people’s behaviors or attitudes
 Ethical Considerations
• APA guidelines for ethical research
• Informed consent( can be withdrawn)
• Confidentiality
• Debriefing/use of deception