Research Methods

Lecture 1
Thinking like a scientist

Investigation
An idea for something to investigate
a problem or question
Knowledge of whats already known
What data or evidence is required
How to get that data experiments
How to analyse the data
Discussion of the results
Publication of your findings

The Psychology Link

Some of you will do a purely
technical project
Most of you will do a project that
involves people at some time
Psychology is all about designing
experiments that involve people
Psychologists are experts in
Research Methods and Statistical
Analysis

Essential Reading
The essential text for this module is
therefore:
Sherri Jackson Research Methods
and Statistics A Critical Thinking
Approach 4th Edition (2011)

Thinking like a scientist

Sources of knowledge
The scientific (critical thinking)
approach
Basic and applied research
Goals of science
Research methods
Doing science
Proof and disproof
The research process

Sources of knowledge
Superstition knowledge is based
on subjective feelings interpreting
random events as non-random
believing in magical events
Intuition knowledge gained
without being consciously aware of
its source
Authority - knowledge gained from
those viewed as authority figures

Sources of knowledge
Tenacity knowledge gained from
repeated ideas that are clung to
despite evidence to the contrary
Rationalism knowledge gained
through logical reasoning
Empiricism knowledge gained
through objective observations of
events in the real world

Science
Science is knowledge gained
through a combination of empirical
and rational methods.
Hypothesis a prediction of the
outcome of a study or experiment
Theory organised system of
assumptions and principles that
attempts to explain certain
phenomena and their relationship

Science

Science is a method, not a subject

Scientific approach
Sceptical the validity and
authenticity of something claimed
as fact is questioned
Systematic empiricism making
observations in a systematic
manner to test hypotheses and
refute or develop a theory
Publicly verifiable knowledge
presenting research so that it can
be criticised and tested.

Scientific approach
Empirically solvable problems
questions that are potentially
answerable by means of currently
available research techniques
Principle of falsifiability a theory
must be stated in such a way that it
is possible to refute or disconfirm it
Pseudoscience appears to be
scientific but actually violates the
criteria of science

Basic and applied research

Basic research:
Seeks knowledge for its own sake

Applied research:
Practical significance and potential
solutions

Goals of science
Scientific research is carried out with
an intention in mind:
Description observing in order to
describe
Prediction identifying the factors
that predict when an event will
occur
Explanation identifying the causes
that determine when and why a
behaviour occurs

Scientific Methods
This module will consider the 3 main
research strategies associated with
those 3 goals:
Descriptive Methods
Predictive (Relational) Methods
Explanatory Methods

Descriptive Methods
Observational making
observations of phenomena
Naturalistic natural setting
Laboratory controlled setting

Case study in-depth study of one

or more situations or individuals

Descriptive Methods
Survey questioning individuals on
a topic
Sample group who participate in a
study
Population all the people who the
study is about
Random sample random selection of
membership of a group for study from
the population

Predictive (relational) Methods

Correlational method assesses
the degree of relationship between
two variables
Correlation does not imply causation
Positive relationship an increase in
one variable accompanies an increase
in the other variable
Negative relationship an increase in
one variable accompanies a decrease
in the other

Predictive Methods
Quasi-experimental method
compares naturally occurring
groups the variable of interest
cannot be manipulated
Subject (participant) variable a
characteristic in subjects that cannot
be changed
Alternative explanation some
extraneous variable may instead
cause the observed phenomena

Explanatory Method
Allows a researcher to establish a
cause-effect relationship through
manipulation of variables and
control of the situation
Independent variable the
parameter that is varied
Dependent variable what is
measured

Explanatory Method
Control group a group that does
not receive any treatment i.e.
varying amounts of the independent
variable
Experimental group the group that
does receive the treatment
Random assignment subjects are
assigned randomly to groups
Control excluding the effects of
other possible variables

Doing science
We need more than one study of
any phenomena
There may be control problems
Limited available technology
Different views of the same event
Different settings/ people etc.
Theories and understanding evolve

This is good news for MSc projects

Proof and disproof

Proof of a theory is logically
impossible
We test a hypothesis by attempting
to falsify or disconfirm it
Drinking
Beer

16 years
old

Drinking
Coke

22 years
old

Research Process

Identify a problem or question

Review the literature
Generate hypotheses
Design and conduct the study
Analyse the data
Interpret the results
Publish the findings
Refine the theory/understanding