Psychology is such a vast topic, not only in terms of what is investigated but also in terms of how it can be researched. Research methods in psychology are the discipline's core; without them, we can't ensure that researched topics follow a standardised scientific protocol, but we'll get into this later.
- We will start by exploring the hypothesis scientific method.
- Then, we will delve into the types of research methods in psychology.
- After, we will look at the scientific process in psychology.
- Moving on, we will be comparing research methods in psychology.
- Finally, we will identify research methods in psychology examples.
Hypothesis Scientific Method
Before we get into the different research methods used in psychology, let's go over the aims and purposes of research.
A researcher's goal in psychology is to support or negate existing theories or propose new ones via empirical research.
Empiricism in research refers to testing and measuring something observable through our five senses.
In scientific research, to test a theory, it must first be organised and written in the form of an operationalised hypothesis.
An operationalised hypothesis is a predictive statement that lists the variables investigated, how they are measured and the expected outcome of the study.
Let's take a look at an example of a good operationalised hypothesis.
Clients diagnosed with a major depressive disorder who receive CBT are more likely to score lower on Beck's depressive inventory scale than patients diagnosed with a major depressive disorder who receive no intervention for their symptoms.
The investigation of providing supporting or disproving hypotheses/ theories is where research methods in psychology come in.
Types of Research Methods in Psychology
When it comes to research methods in psychology, they can be subdivided into two categories; qualitative and quantitative.
Qualitative research is when the data generated from using the research method is non-numerical and quantitative research is when the data is numerical.
Not only do the two categories differ in how data is collected but also in how it is analysed. For instance, qualitative research typically uses statistical analyses, whereas qualitative research commonly uses the content or thematic analysis.
Thematic analysis keeps the data qualitative, but content analysis transforms it into quantitative data.
Fig. 1. Quantitative data can be displayed in various ways, such as tables, graphs and charts.
Scientific Process: Psychology
Research in psychology must follow a standardised protocol to ensure the research is scientific. In essence, research should form a hypothesis based on existing theories, test them empirically and conclude if they support or negate the hypothesis. If the theory is disproved, then the research should be adapted, and the same steps described above should be repeated.
But why does research need to be scientific? Psychology tests important things, e.g. the effectiveness of interventions; if a researcher concludes it is effective when this is not the case, it can lead to severe consequences.
Quantitative and qualitative research differ in what makes research effective. For instance, quantitative research should be empirical, reliable, objective and valid. In contrast, qualitative research highlights the importance of transferability, credibility and confirmability.
Comparing Research Methods: Psychology
There are distinct approaches employed in psychological research under the two main categories. Let's discuss the five standard research methods used in psychology. These are the experimental methods, observational techniques, self-report techniques, correlational studies, and case studies.
Research Methods in Psychology: Experimental Methods
Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when a particular variable is manipulated.
Experimental studies are quantitative research.
There are mainly four types of experiments in psychology:
- Laboratory experiments.
- Field experiments.
- Natural experiments.
- Quasi-experiments.
Each type of experiment has strengths and limitations.
The type of experiment depends on how participants are allocated into experimental conditions and whether or not the independent variable is naturally occurring or manipulated.
Research Methods in Psychology: Observational Techniques
Observational techniques are used when a researcher observes how people behave and act to learn more about their ideas, experiences, actions, and beliefs.
Observation studies are primarily categorised as qualitative. However, they may also be quantitative or both (mixed methods).
The two main observation techniques are:
Observations can also be overt and covert (refers to whether the participant is aware they are being observed), naturalistic and controlled.
Research methods in Psychology: Self-Report Techniques
Self-report techniques refer to data collection approaches in which participants report information about themselves without interference from the experimenter. Ultimately, such methods require respondents to respond to pre-set questions.
Self-report techniques can provide researchers with quantitative and qualitative data, depending on the set-up of questions.
Self-report techniques can include:
Interviews.
Psychometric testing.
Questionnaires.
There are many established questionnaires in psychology; however, sometimes, these are not useful for precisely measuring what the researcher intends to measure. In that case, the researcher needs to construct a new questionnaire.
When constructing questionnaires, researchers need to ensure many things, e.g. the questions are logical and easy to understand. In addition, the questionnaire should have high internal reliability and validity; to ensure these questionnaires must be tested in a pilot study before being used in a full-scale experiment.
Research Methods in Psychology: Correlational Studies
Correlational Studies are a non-experimental quantitative research method. It is used to measure the strength and direction of two co-variables.
Correlations can be categorised as weak, moderate or strong and negative, no or positive correlations.
Positive correlations are where one variable increases the other also increases.
Umbrella sales increase as the rainy weather increases.
Negative correlations are where one variable increases and the other decreases.
Hot drink sales increase as the temperature decreases.
And no correlation is when there is no relationship between co-variables.
Research Methods in Psychology: Case Studies
Case studies belong to a qualitative research methodology. Case studies investigate persons, groups, communities, or events in-depth. They frequently employ a multi-methodological approach that includes participant interviews and observations.
A psychology case study typically gathers critical and influential biographical moments from a patient's past and salient details in the individual's daily life that may drive the development of particular behaviours or thinking.
A famous psychological case study is H.M. From his case study; we learned the effect of hippocampal damage on memory.
Research Methods in Psychology: Other Research Method Examples
Some other standard research methods in psychology are:
- Cross-cultural research compares the findings from countries that investigated similar concepts to identify cultural similarities and differences.
- Meta-analyses systematically consolidate the findings of multiple studies into a single result and are commonly used to identify the direction of the established research in a specific field. For instance, a meta-analysis can show whether current research suggests an effective intervention.
- Longitudinal research is a study conducted over an extended period, e.g. to investigate the long-term effects of something.
- Cross-sectional research is when researchers collect data from many people during a set time frame. The research method is typically used to measure the prevalence of illnesses.
Research Methods in Psychology Examples
Let's look at examples of psychology's five standard research methods that may be used to test hypotheses.
| Research Method | Hypotheses |
| Experimental Methods | People with a major depressive disorder who receive CBT will score lower on Beck's Depressive Inventory than those with a major depressive disorder who received no intervention. |
| Observational Techniques | Victims of bullying are less likely to play and interact with others on the school playground. |
| Self-Report Techniques | People who report higher education status are more likely to report higher incomes. |
| Correlational Studies | There is a relationship between the amount of time spent exercising and muscle mass. |
| Case Studies | Centaurians are more likely to come from blue-zone countries. |
Research Methods in Psychology - Key takeaways
- The scientific method suggests that before using research methods in psychology, an operationalised hypothesis must be formulated.
- Some types of research methods in psychology are experimental, observational and self-report techniques, as well as correlational and case studies.
- When comparing research methods: psychology, the research methods can be categorised into two; qualitative and quantitative.
- Some research methods in psychology examples are using experimental methods to identify if people with a major depressive disorder who receive CBT will score lower on Beck's Depressive Inventory than those with a major depressive disorder who received no intervention.
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