Methodology
Mention the main different types of research methods
1. Experiments (manipulating variables)
2. Quasi/experiments
3. Correlational studies (do not manipulate variables)
4. Observation
5. Case studies
6. Surveys/ questionnaires
7. Interviews
8. Longitudinal studies
A psychologist wants to determine whether sleep deprivation causes a decrease in reaction time in teenagers. What kind of study should be made?
Experimental
Discuss whether this questions is a potential correlational or causal study:
Is there a relationship between social media use and anxiety?
correlational
A psychologist wants to find out whether teenagers feel more stressed during exam week compared to regular school weeks. She wants to understand their personal experiences and emotions in detail.
Qualitative method/ interviews
Mention some of the advantages of quantitative research
1. Objective measurement
2. Large samples (generalizability)
3. Statistics can be done.
4. Help establish cause and effect
A researcher wants to understand how preschool children share toys during free play without influencing their behaviour. What kind of study should be made?
Observation/ naturalistic observation
Discuss how triangulation can reduce bias
Triangulation reduces bias because it checks findings from multiple angles.
What kind of method should be used for the next research question:
“How do patients describe their experience of living with panic disorder?”
Qualitative research
Mention some disadvantages of quantitative research
1. Lacks depth and context (people become numbers)
2. Researcher bias measurement
3. Lack of flexibility
4. Artificial environments (experimentation)
5. Potential ethical issues
A school psychologist wants to test whether students in private schools have better memory scores than students in public schools. She cannot randomly assign students to school type. What kind of study should be made?
quasi-experiment
Discuss how randomness can reduce bias
Randomness reduces bias by balancing individual differences, reducing researcher influence, and ensuring data reflect the true effects of variables
What kind of research method should be used for the following research question:
“How do patients describe their experience of living with panic disorder?”
Longitudinal method
Mention some advantages of qualitative research
1. Provides rich detailed data
2. High ecological validity
3. Flexible
4. Captures sensitive topics
5. Contextualizes (holistic vision)
A researcher wants to collect data about teachers’ experiences with classroom burnout, with detailed personal stories and emotions. What kind of study should be made?
Interview
Discuss how different research methodologies influence measurement
The research method decides whether you get numbers, words, controlled data, or behaviour reports and that determines the accuracy, reliability, and meaning of your measurements.
What kind of method should be used for the following research question:
“Does sleep deprivation cause anxiety?”
Experimental (manipulate variables)
Mention some disadvantages of qualitative research
2. Small sample size
3. Researcher bias (subjective)
4. Harder to replicate
5. Lower causality results
A neuropsychologist wants to deeply document the recovery of a patient who suffered rare damage to the left temporal lobe. What kind of study should be made?
Case study
Discuss how causality differs from correlation and the importance of distinguishing between the two within psychological research.
1. Experimentation (manipulating and controlling variables)
2. Sampling (size, randomness)
3. Relationship/covariation (if A changes B changes)
Identify the steps to ensuring credible research
1. Define a clear research question
2. Choose a research methodology
3. Standaridize procedures (control bias, reliability, validity)
4. Choose the sample
5. Identify external variables
6. Ethical guideline