RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY Research is the systematic

RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY

§ Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon with which we are interested. § So, it provides the key to understanding the degree to which hypotheses are accurate.

Psychologists employ different research methods depending on the subject matter. Common research methods include: • Observation • Case studies • Self-report measures and surveys • Correlational studies • Experimental studies

OBSERVATION • Psychologists frequently observe behavior and events as they occur in their natural settings. • Scientific observation is made in a systematic and objective manner, with careful record keeping. • The primary goal of observational methods is to describe behavior as fully and as accurately as possible.

TYPES OF OBSERVATION • In order to observe behavior in the real world, psychologists may employ one of two methods: • 1) Naturalistic observation (observation without intervention) § Involves observing behavior in normal, everyday settings in an unobtrusive manner § The observer acts as a passive recorder of events and tries to be as inconspicuous as possible § i. e. Observing the activities of children on a playground from a distance.

• Participant observation (observation with intervention) Psychologists using this method observe people’s behaviour while actively participating in the situation they are observing. E. G. Joining a cult or sorority to observe the daily activities of its members. In participant observation, the observer may be: 1. Disguised - participants are not aware that they are being observed; or 2. Undisguised – participants know that they are being studied

CASE STUDY • A case study is a research design in which one person or a small number of people are studied in depth, usually over an extended period of time. • Case studies are ideal for studying rare phenomena and may be a useful tool when studying new research topics. • These studies often involve collecting evidence from a wide variety of sources such as observations, interviews, documents and artifacts.

QUESTIONNAIRE AND SURVEY • A questionnaire is a structured pencil-and-paper interview, consisting of standardized written questions. • Questionnaires are also called self-report measures. • Pros: they are easy to administer and can be used to collect data from a large group of people fairly quickly. • Cons: on the other hand, respondents may not answer questions truthfully: they may provide socially desirable responses and minimize negative attitudes and traits.

• The questionnaire is the primary research instrument used in surveys. • Surveys involve the administration of a questionnaire to a large sample of people who are representative of the wider population being studied. • They are often used in the study of public opinion, and to assess knowledge, beliefs and attitudes

CORRELATIONAL STUDIES • In correlational studies, researchers examine the extent to which two variables are associated. • Correlation is a mathematical way of determining the relationship between two sets of scores. • Correlations can be positive, negative or zero (0 – 1) ØA positive correlation means that as the value of one variable changes, the other also changes in the same direction. Positive (. 29, . 48, . 76, . 84, . 95, . 99) i. e. As level of education increases, income also increases (or vice versa)

• A negative correlation means that as the value of one variable changes, the other changes in the opposite direction. Negative (-. 21, -. 39, -. 51, -. 65, -. 87, -. 99) i. e. As self-esteem increases, social anxiety decreases. • A correlation of zero means that the variables are not related. i. e. A person’s weight might tell us nothing about their acting ability.

• Correlations reveal the existence and extent of relationships but do not necessarily indicate what causes what. • Correlation does not mean causation • The only research design that allows researchers to make statements about cause and effect is the experiment.

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN • An experiment is a careful and controlled study of cause and effect through manipulation of the conditions to which participants are exposed. • In a correlational study, researchers simply measure preexisting differences among participants (i. e. Weight, aggression) but in an experiment, they manipulate variables to see whether these manipulations produce differences in participants’ behavior

• Researchers must ensure that the experimental and control groups are treated equally in all respects, except for the manipulation of the IV. • If not, there will be no way of telling if changes in the dv were caused by changes in the iv or some other variable. i. e. If persons who received drug X also received regular psychotherapy sessions, changes in their anxiety levels might be due to these sessions and not to the drug.