Research methods

SYLLABUS
• Major steps in psychological research (problem statement, hypothesis
formulation, research design, sampling, tools of data collection, analysis
and interpretation and report writing)
• Fundamental versus applied research
• Methods of data collection (interview, observation, questionnaire and case
study)
• Research Designs (Ex-post facto and experimental)
• Application of statistical techniques (t-test, two-way ANOVA, correlation
and regression and factor analysis)
• Item response theory
 Psychological Research
• Psychological research refers to research that psychologists conduct for
systematic study and for analysis of the experiences and behaviours of
individuals or groups.
• Their research can have educational, occupational and clinical applications.
• Research in psychology is conducted in broad accord with the standards of the
scientific method, encompassing both qualitative ethological and quantitative
statistical modalities to generate and evaluate explanatory hypotheses with
regard to psychological phenomena.
 GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL METHODS
• Psychological enquiry has the following goals:
• Description, prediction, explanation and control of behaviour and
application of knowledge so generated.
• Description
• This helps in distinguishing a particular behaviour from other behaviours.
• It attempt to describe a behaviour or a phenomenon as accurately as possible.
• For example, the researcher may be interested in observing study habits among
students.
• Prediction
• The second goal of scientific enquiry is prediction of behaviour.
• It helps to understand and describe the behaviour accurately, we come to know the
relationship of a particular behaviour with other types of behaviours, events or
phenomena.
• Explanation
• It helps to know the causal factors or determinants of behaviour.
• Psychologists are primarily interested in knowing the factors that make behaviour occur.
Also, what are the conditions under which a particular behaviour does not occur.
• Control
• Researcher try to explain why a particular behaviour occurs, you can control that
behaviour by making changes in its antecedent conditions.
• Control refers to three things: making a particular behaviour happen, reducing it, or
enhancing it.
• Application
• The final goal of the scientific enquiry is to bring out positive changes in the
lives of people.
• Psychological research is conducted to solve problems in various settings..
 Basic research
• Basic research (also called pure research or fundamental (research) is a systematic
study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental
aspects of phenomena.
• Basic research is the result of curiosity that leads to increase in knowledge and does
not focus towards solving a specific problem.
• It tries to explore the unknown while in pursuit of searching for information.
• It aims at the expansion of knowledge.
• It is driven by curiosity, seeking knowledge systematically and methodically without
its application in mind.
• It lays the foundation for applied research. It is, thus, indirect in its approach
• It helps in planning the strategy.
 Applied research
• Applied research is a form of systematic inquiry involving the practical application of
science.
• Applied research works towards finding a proper and feasible solution to the problem.
• It focus lies in answering specific questions.
• This research helps find out new solutions as well as works on the present ones by
modifying them for a better performance, although it is not always generated by a
negative situation.
• Its goal is to improve human conditions.
• It searches for knowledge with a specific application in mind.
• It checks the effectiveness of the strategy.
Psychological Research
 Problem statement
• A problem statement is a concise description of an issue to be addressed or a condition to be
improved upon.
• It identifies the gap between the current (problem) state and desired (goal) state of a process or
product.
• Focusing on the facts, the problem statement should be designed to address the Five Ws:
• Who was involved
• What happened
• When did it take place
• Where did it take place
• Why did that happen
• The first condition of solving a problem is understanding the problem, which can be done by
way of a problem statement.
• Problem statements are widely used by businesses and organizations to execute process
improvement projects.
 Hypothesis formulation
• Hypothesis is often considered a tentative and testable statement of the
possible relationship between two or more events / variables under
investigation.
• In conducting research, the important consideration after the formulation of a
research problem is the construction of hypothesis.
• when the problem has been stated, a tentative solution in the form of testable
proposition is offered by the researcher.
 Characteristics of Hypothesis
• Hypothesis should be conceptually clear
• Hypothesis must be testable
• Hypothesis should be related to the existing body or theory and impact
• Hypothesis should have logical unity and comprehensiveness
• Hypothesis should be capable of verification
• Hypothesis should be operationisable
 FORMULATION OF HYPOTHESIS
• Science proceeds with observation, hypothesis formulation and hypothesis
testing.
• After testing the hypothesis, through various statistical tests, researcher can
accept or reject the hypothesis.
• If the hypothesis is accepted then researcher can replicate the results, if
hypothesis is rejected then researcher can refined or modify the results.
• It is therefore always useful to have a clear idea and vision about the
hypothesis.
• It is essential for the research question as the researcher intents to verify, as it
will direct and greatly help to interpretation of the results.
 Sampling
• Sampling is that part of statistical practice concerned with the selection of a
subset of individual observations within a population of individuals intended to
yield some knowledge about the population of concern, especially for the
purposes of making predictions based on statistical inference.
• Sampling is the process of selecting a representative group from the population
under study.
 Types of Sampling
• Probability sampling scheme is one in which every unit in the population has a
chance (greater than zero) of being selected in the sample, and this probability can be
accurately determined.
• Simple random sample of a given size, all such subsets of the frame are given an
equal probability. Each element of the frame thus has an equal probability of
selection.
• Systematic sampling relies on arranging the target population according to some
ordering scheme and then selecting elements at regular intervals through that
ordered list.
• Cluster sampling Sometimes it is cheaper to 'cluster' the sample in some way e.g. by
selecting respondents from certain areas only, or certain time-periods only
 DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES
• Interviews
• Interviews can be conducted in person or over the telephone
• Interviews can be done formally (structured), semi-structured, or informally
• Questions should be focused, clear, and encourage open-ended response.
• Observations
• Allows for the study of the dynamics of a situation, frequency counts of target
behaviors, or other behaviors as indicated by needs of the evaluation.
• Focus Groups
• A facilitated group interview with individuals that have something in common
• Gathers information about combined perspectives and opinions.
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