RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY

1. THE SURVEY METHOD

A Survey is a data collection tool that is used by psychologists to gather informatio
n about the subject through questionnaires and modeled or random interviews. For
example, a survey or a modeled questionnaire can be distributed among college stu
dents to find out how many pupil are interested in co-curricular activities.

2. CASE-STUDY
A Case-Study is an in-depth analysis of the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, experiences,
behaviors, or problems of a single individual. In case-study, techniques such as pers
onal interviews, direct observation, psychometric tests, and archival records are used
to gather information. For example, A researcher could conduct a study to investig
a t e t h e
memory processes of an individual with an exceptional
ability to remember things.
3. EXPERIMENTATION
The most powerful scientific method is Experimentation. An experiment is an investi
gation in which a hypothesis is scientifically tested. In an experiment, an independe
nt variable (the cause) is manipulated and the dependent variable (the effect) is m
easured;any extraneous variables are controlled.
a. LABORATORY EXPERIMENT
This type of experiment is conducted in a well-controlled environment (not necessar
ily a laboratory), where accurate measurements are possible. The researcher decides
where the experiment will take place, at what time, with which participants, in w
hat circumstances and using a standardized procedure. Participants are randomly all
ocated to each independent variable group.
b. FIELD EXPERIMENT
Field experiments are done in the everyday (i.e. real life) environment of the partic
ip-ants. The experimenter still manipulates the independent variable, but in a real-lif
e setting (so cannot really control extraneous variables).
c. NATURAL EXPERIMENT
Natural experiments are conducted in the everyday (i.e. real life) environment of th
e participants, but here the experimenter has no control over the IV as it occurs n
aturally in real life.
4. CORRELATION METHOD
This psychological research method determines if a relationship exist between two o
r more variables, and if so, to what degree the relationship occurs. This type of re
search is descriptive and quantitative in nature.
A positive correlation is a relationship between two variables in which both variable
s either increase or decease at the same time. An example would be height and
weigh.Taller people tend to be heavier.
A negative correlation is a relationship between two variables in which an increase
in one variable is associated with a decrease in the other. An example would be h
eight above sea level and temperature. As you climb the mountain (increase in hei
ght) it gets colder (decrease in temperature).
A zero correlation exists when there is no relationship between two variables. For
example, their is no relationship between the amount of tea drunk and level of int
elligence.
CORRELATION COEFFICIENT
These relations can be expressed numerically and graphically through statistics. Its v
alue ranges from (-1 to +1). This is called Correlation Coefficient and it is denoted
by ‘r’.
5. OBSERVATIONAL RESEARCH
The term Observational Research is used to refer to several different types of non-
experimental studies in which behavior is systematically observed and recorded. The
data that are collected in observational research studies are often qualitative in nat
ure but they may also be quantitative or both (mixed-methods). There are several
different types of observational research designs that will be described below.
a. NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION
Naturalistic observation is an observational method that involves observing people’s
behavior in the environment in which it typically occurs. Thus naturalistic observatio
n is a type of field research. Researchers who engage in naturalistic observation us
ually do their thing in an unobstrusive manner. Researchers may utilize a number o
f different techniques to collect data from naturalistic observation. Like, taking note
s for future, recording when and how many times certain behaviors occurred, and
audio or videotaping can also be considered where necessary.
b. CONTROLLED OBSERVATION
Here the investigator makes careful observations of one or more specific behaviors
in a particular setting that is more structured and systematic. The researcher may
observe people in the laboratory environment. In controlled observation, the researc
her only focuses on very specific behaviors of interest. Alternatively, the researcher
may observe people in a natural setting (like a classroom setting) that they have st
ructured some way, for instance by introducing some specific task participants are t
o engage in or by introducing a specific social situation or manipulation.
c. PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION
Another approach to data collection in observational research is participant observat
ion. In participant observation, researchers become active participants in the group
or situation they are studying. The basic rationale for participant observation is that
there may be important information that is only accessible to, or can be interpret
ed only by, someone who is an active participant in the group or situation. Like n
aturalistic observation, participant observation can be either disguised or undisguised
.
6. PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING
Researchers use Psychological Tests to collect information about personality traits, e
motional states, aptitudes, interests, abilities, values, or behaviors. Researchers usuall
y Standardize these tests, which means they create uniform procedures for giving a
nd scoring them. When scoring a test, researchers often compare subjects’ scores t
o Norms, which are established standards of performance on a test. A well-constru
cted standardized test can evaluate subjects better than self-report data.
RELIABILITY
A test has good Reliability if it produces the same result when researchers administ
er it to the same group of people at different times. Researchers determine a test’
s Test-Retest Reliability by giving the test to a group of people and then giving the
test again to the same group of people at a later time. A reliable test will produ
ce approximately the same results on both occasions.
7. ARCHIVAL RESEARCH OR LITERATURE REVIEWS
Literature reviews are also a part of research methodology in psychological research
. A literature review is a synopsis of previously conducted studies. A literature revie
w may provide an appealing clue which can help in furthur investigation of an avai
lable psychological evidence. This is called narrative review.
Statistical techniques can also be applied to combine and draw conclusions about
multiple researches in an effort to increase power over individual case-studies, impr
oves estimation to resolve problems like uncertainty when reports show unclear res
ults. This is called meta-analysis.
8. PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASURES
Researchers also use brain-imaging tools such as MRI scans, abbreviation for Magne
tic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomography and Electroencephalography are used
to study brain anatomy and its involvement in cognitive and behavioral functions.
9. QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
Qualitative research is a scientific method to gather numerical free data such as fa
cts and features, characteristics, concepts, and description of things. This research a
nswers how and when a certain phenomenon occurs. In qualitative research, the as
sumptions that are made are dynamic in nature. A good example of a qualitative r
esearch method would be unstructured interviews which generate qualitative data t
hrough the use of open questions. Qualitative research is endlessly creative and int
erpretive. The researcher does not just leave the field with mountains of empirical
data and then easily write up his or her findings. Qualitative interpretations are co
nstructed, and various techniques can be used to make sense of the data. Notice t
hat qualitative data could be much more than just words or text. Photographs, vid
eos, sound recordings and so on, can be considered qualitative data.
 10. QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
Quantitative research gathers data in a numerical form which can be put into categ
ories, or in rank order, or measured in units of measurement. This type of data ca
n be used to construct graphs and tables of raw data.