PSY1315 Understanding Research in Psychology Lecture 01 PDF

20/10/2021 PSY1315 - Understanding Research in Psychology Dr Lorleen Farrugia PSY 1315: UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGY Value: 4 ECTS Study Unit Type: Lectures Attendance: Obligatory Subject: Research (Compulsory) As...

20/10/2021 PSY1315 - Understanding Research in Psychology Dr Lorleen Farrugia PSY 1315: UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGY Value: 4 ECTS Study Unit Type: Lectures Attendance: Obligatory Subject: Research (Compulsory) Assessment: Examination – 1 hr Multiple Choice Questions Lecturer: Dr Lorleen Farrugia ([email protected])  20/10/2021 Study Unit Outline The research process Research designs (experimental/non- experimental) Research methods (experiments, surveys, interviews, focus group, sampling, issues of reliability and validity) Short Course Description The study unit seeks to help students become cognizant of the foundational topics of scientific inquiry so that they can become intelligent consumers of research as reported in journals, academic texts and in the media. By the end of the study unit, students will be able to : Demonstrate knowledge of the basic steps involved in carrying out research, Comprehend issues of reliability, validity and sampling, Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative methods, Identify the main research data collection tools  20/10/2021 Required Text/Reading List REQUIRED TEXT Langdridge, D. & Hagger-Johnson, G. (2009). Introduction to research methods and data analysis in psychology. London: Pearson Education READING LIST Creswell, J.W. (2007) Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. London: Sage. Creswell, J.W. (2008). Research design. qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. London: Sage. List of Topics 1 Introduction 2 Steps in Doing Research 3 Surveys I 4 Surveys II 5 Experiments I 6 Experiments II 7 Interviews I 8 Interviews II 9 Focus Groups I 10 Focus Groups II 11 Ethical Issues in Research 12 Reporting Research & the APA® Style  20/10/2021 INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS Why do we carry out research?  20/10/2021 Understanding how things work out in the real world Questioning theories and testing hunches Gaining expertise in a particular area Skills learnt from research can be applied to your job Learning flexibility and the ability to adapt What is the difference between everyday speculation and research?  20/10/2021 Research Methods In everyday life, we all speculate about the behaviour of others, for example we ask: Why do people smoke? Why do young people use TikTok? What are older adults’ attitudes towards technology? We want to understand our own behaviour as well, for example, we ask: Why do I always become angry when people come late for an appointment What was the meaning of the dream I had last night? In psychology, we do research when we need a better understanding of a particular aspect or problem.  20/10/2021 Collecting In a To answer qualitative or systematic research quantitative way questions data Types of Research Paradigms There are many classifications on Research. Two of the main ones are: (i) Experimental / non experimental (ii) Quantitative / qualitative  20/10/2021 Types of Research Paradigms EXPERIMENTAL NON EXPERIMENTAL Usually in lab Usually in field May use technical apparatus, assessments, Data-collecting tool can be survey, interview, observation etc. to collect data. focus group etc Quantitative data Quantitative and Qualitative data Few confounding variables Many confounding variables Hypothesis “Performance of certain tasks Research Question Do people use the are effected by alcohol”. doctor or health services in the most appropriate way. Can prove causation Cannot prove causation The Scientific Method When using the “scientific method”, it is the intention that research should be: Based on objective observations or earlier research... From which are derived testable hypotheses/Research Question.. Which are then evaluated via well-designed studies... Which gather quantitative data..qualitative data Which is analysed and the results reported in such a way that others can examine, repeat or extend their findings.  20/10/2021 The Scientific Method Recently there has been increasing criticism of complete reliance on the quantitative-data-gathering aspects of the scientific method in psychology. Qualitative methods – such as the use of case studies – have always been part of psychology, but were often seen as a supplement to “real” research. Nowadays, especially in areas of psychology which deal with social issues, more use has been made of qualitative data by considering individual’s own experiences and their interpretations of the situation – rather than merely measuring how they perform in those situations. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?  20/10/2021 Quantitative and Qualitative Research 1. Big Sample Small Sample 2. Breadth Depth 3. Generalize to population Cannot generalize to population 4. Can be replicated Cannot be replicated Quantitative and Qualitative Research Quantitative data involves measuring a variable using numerical basis, for example, finding out how many people are in favour of organ donation or what the incidence of anorexia in Malta is. Qualitative data, on the other hand, emphasises the interpretations and meaning attached to experiences for example, why people are afraid to donate their organs after their death, or why adolescents develop eating disorders.  20/10/2021 Understanding the difference between quantitative and qualitative research https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwFsRZv4oHA Quantitative and Qualitative Research Exercise: Would the following examples produce qualitative or quantitative data? 1. How many violent acts are shown per minute on prime television? 2. Do more males than females experience depression? 3. Why do women enjoy watching TV series? 4. What is the incidence of marital breakdown in Malta? 5. What are the experiences of mothers suffering from post-natal depression?  20/10/2021 The Research Process SELECTION OF THE PROBLEM REVIEW OF EXISTING THEORIES AND RESEARCH STATEMENT OF RESEARCH QUESTION OR HYPOTHESIS DETERMINATION OF RESEARCH DESIGN DATA COLLECTION ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA PRESENTATION OF RESULTS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIWPmS-g1ps