02 Research Methods

How do psychologists conduct scientific, meaningful, and ethical research?

WHY ARE RESEARCH METHODS IMPORTANT TO THE STUDY OF PSYCHOLOGY?

• Psychologists use scientific methods to carry out research, reducing the problems of hindsight bias and the false consensus effect.
• When carrying out empirical research, psychologists use existing facts and theories to come up with new hypotheses.

WHAT ARE SOME TYPES OF RESEARCH STRATEGIES?

• Experiments, correlational studies, and descriptive studies (naturalistic observation, laboratory observation, case studies, and surveys) are used to conduct different types of research.
• Research can take place in a laboratory or in the field.
• Data collection may be self-reported or observational.

HOW CAN STATISTICAL METHODS HELP US GATHER AND ANALYZE DATA?

• Descriptive statistics are used to summarize data sets and provide information about measures of central tendency, measures of variability, and frequency distribution.
• Inferential statistics are used to provide information about the statistical significance of data.

HOW CAN WE MINIMIZE BIAS?

• A degree of error is inevitable in any psychological research and is taken into account during statistical analysis.
• Researchers can minimize bias by using representative samples, taking reliable measurements, and avoiding subject- and observer-expectancy effects.

WHAT ETHICAL ISSUES DO PSYCHOLOGISTS FACE?

• When conducting a study, a psychologist needs to consider three issues: a person’s right to privacy, the possibility of harm or discomfort, and the use of deception.
• Researchers must follow the Canadian Psychological Association’s code of ethics if they wish to publish their work in scientific journals.