02 Research Methods

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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 thefield.
• 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 American Psychological Association’s code of ethics if they wish to publish their work in APA journals.