Research Methods in Psychology

Types of Research

• Qualitative Research: Focuses on exploring attitudes, behaviors, and motivations through non-numerical data (e.g., interviews, observations, texts).
• Quantitative Research: Focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis to identify patterns and trends.

Research Designs

• Experimental Design: Manipulates an independent variable to measure its effect on a dependent variable.
• Quasi-Experimental Design: Lacks random assignment, but still attempts to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
• Survey Research: Collects self-reported data through questionnaires or interviews.
• Case Study Research: In-depth examination of a single case or a small number of cases.

Data Collection Methods

• Primary Data: Original data collected through experimentation, surveys, or observations.
• Secondary Data: Existing data collected from other sources (e.g., literature reviews, datasets).
• Self-Report Measures: Participants provide information about themselves through questionnaires, interviews, or diaries.
• Observational Measures: Researchers observe participants' behavior in natural or controlled environments.

Sampling Techniques

• Probability Sampling: Random selection from a population to ensure representativeness.
• Non-Probability Sampling: Non-random selection, often due to convenience or accessibility.

Data Analysis

• Descriptive Statistics: Summarizes and describes the basic features of the data.
• Inferential Statistics: Makes inferences about a population based on a sample.
• Qualitative Data Analysis: Identifies themes, patterns, and codes in non-numerical data.

Ethical Considerations

• Informed Consent: Participants must understand the research and provide voluntary consent.
• Anonymity and Confidentiality: Protect participants' identities and data.
• Debriefing: Inform participants of the research's true purpose and any deception used.

Research Limitations

• Internal Validity: The degree to which the research design and methodology ensure accurate results.
• External Validity: The extent to which the results can be generalized to other populations and contexts.
• Sampling Bias: Systematic errors in the sampling process that affect the representativeness of the sample.

Types of Research

• Qualitative research focuses on exploring attitudes, behaviors, and motivations through non-numerical data such as interviews, observations, and texts.
• Quantitative research focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis to identify patterns and trends.

Research Designs

• Experimental design manipulates an independent variable to measure its effect on a dependent variable.
• Quasi-experimental design lacks random assignment, but still attempts to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
• Survey research collects self-reported data through questionnaires or interviews.
• Case study research involves an in-depth examination of a single case or a small number of cases.

Data Collection Methods

• Primary data is original data collected through experimentation, surveys, or observations.
• Secondary data is existing data collected from other sources such as literature reviews, datasets.
• Self-report measures involve participants providing information about themselves through questionnaires, interviews, or diaries.
• Observational measures involve researchers observing participants' behavior in natural or controlled environments.

Sampling Techniques

• Probability sampling involves random selection from a population to ensure representativeness.
• Non-probability sampling involves non-random selection, often due to convenience or accessibility.

Data Analysis

• Descriptive statistics summarizes and describes the basic features of the data.
• Inferential statistics makes inferences about a population based on a sample.
• Qualitative data analysis involves identifying themes, patterns, and codes in non-numerical data.

Ethical Considerations

• Informed consent requires participants to understand the research and provide voluntary consent.
• Anonymity and confidentiality involve protecting participants' identities and data.
• Debriefing involves informing participants of the research's true purpose and any deception used.

Research Limitations

• Internal validity refers to the degree to which the research design and methodology ensure accurate results.
• External validity refers to the extent to which the results can be generalized to other populations and contexts.
• Sampling bias refers to systematic errors in the sampling process that affect the representativeness of the sample.