2 Researchin Psychology

RESEARCH IN
PSYCHOLOGY
BASIC METHODS
OF RESEARCH
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
✓ The main purposes are observing and recording behavior.
✓ Although, this cannot prove the cause/s of a certain phenomenon,
this can reveal important information about people’s behavior and
attitudes.
❑ Observation
❑ Participant Observation
❑ Interviews and Questionnaires
❑ Standardized Tests
❑ Case Studies
❑ Ethnographic Studies
❑ Focus Groups
❑ Personal Journals and Diaries
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
✓ The goal is to describe the strength of the relation between two or
more events or characteristics.
✓ This is useful because the more strongly the events are

correlated or associated, the more effectively we can predict one
from the other.
✓ Correlation does not equal causation.

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
✓ This allows the educational psychologist to determine the causes
of behavior by performing an experiment.
❖ Experiment - a carefully regulated procedure in which one
or more of the factors believed to influence the behavior
being studied is manipulated and all other factors are held
constant.
▪ Independent variable (cause) – This is manipulated,
influential, experimental factor.
▪ Dependent variable (effect) – The factor that is
measured. This can change if the IV is manipulated.
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
❖ Experimental group – Their experience is manipulated.
❖ Control group – The comparison group that is treated

the same way with experimental group except the
manipulated factor. They are the baseline against
which the effects of the manipulated condition can
be compared.
Random assignment – The participants for the EG and CG

are assigned by chance.
PROGRAM EVALUATION RESEARCH
✓ This is designed to make decisions about the
effectiveness of a particular program.
✓ This is focused on specific institution, company or

school or its system.
✓ The results are not intended to be generalized to

other settings.
ACTION RESEARCH
✓ This is used to solve a specific problem, improve
teaching and other strategies, or make a decision at
specific location.
✓ The goal is to improve practices immediately in
school, company, or other institution.
✓ This is carried out by teachers and administrators.

TECHNIQUES OF
GATHERING DATA
OBSERVATION
It should be highly systematic.
You know what you are looking for,

unbiased manner of observation,
and accurately recording and
categorizing what you see, and
effectively communicating your
observations.
a. Non-participant/Naturalistic
Observation – Behavior is observed
out in the real-world.
b. Participant Observation – The
observer-researcher is actively
Laboratory – controlled setting where many complex
involved as participant in the
factors from the real world have been removed. activity or setting.
I N T E RV I E W S A N D
QUESTIONNAIRES
Quickest and best way to gain
information is asking for it.
Usually in written form and done in
face-to-face, or over-the-phone, or
electronic forms.
This should involve concrete,
specific, unambiguous questions and
some means to check the
authenticity of respondent’s replies.
Respondents usually give socially

desirable answers, or sometimes
they are untruthful.
STANDARDIZED
TESTS
Uniform procedures are
used in administration and
scoring.
a. Intelligence Tests
b. Aptitude Tests
c. Achievement Tests
CASE STUDIES
This is an in-depth look at an

individual and it takes a lot
of time.
This is often used when

unique circumstances in a
person’s life cannot be
duplicated, for either
practical or ethical reasons.
ETHNOGRAPHIC
STUDIES
This consists of in-depth
description and
interpretation of behavior in
an ethnic or a cultural group
that includes direct
involvement with the
participants.
This involves participant

observation and interviews.
It is considered as long-term
projects.
FOCUS GROUPS
Several people (5-9) are
interviewed in group setting
to obtain information about
a particular topic or issue.
The researcher asks series of

open-ended questions.
This is used to assess the
value of a product, service,
or program.
PERSONAL
JOURNALS AND
DIARIES
You may ask your respondent to

document quantitative or
qualitative aspects of their lives in
journals or diaries.
However, to make this easier,

researcher may provide audio or
video recorder.
RESEARCH
CATEGORIES
ACCORDING TO METHODS
Q UA N T I TAT I V E
RESEARCH
This employs numerical

calculations or utilizing
statistical tools to
discover information
about a particular topic.
Q UA L I TAT I V E
RESEARCH
This involves obtaining

information using
descriptive measures
such as interviews, case
and ethnographic studies,
but not statistically
analyzing the
information.
MIXED METHODS
RESEARCH
This involves
combination of
qualitative methods and
quantitative methods in
doing your research,
especially in interpreting
the data gathered.

2 Researchin Psychology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

2 Researchin Psychology

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

2 Researchin Psychology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RESEARCH IN

✓ This is useful because the more strongly the events are

✓ Correlation does not equal causation.

❖ Control group – The comparison group that is treated

Random assignment – The participants for the EG and CG

✓ This is focused on specific institution, company or

✓ The results are not intended to be generalized to

✓ This is carried out by teachers and administrators.

You know what you are looking for,

Respondents usually give socially

This is an in-depth look at an

This is often used when

This involves participant

The researcher asks series of

You may ask your respondent to

However, to make this easier,

This employs numerical

This involves obtaining

You might also like