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Research Methods

By Saima Masoom Ali

Definition of Research
Research is an ORGANIZED and SYSTEMATIC way of FINDING ANSWERS to QUESTIONS. SYSTEMATIC because there is a definite set of procedures and steps which you will follow. There are certain things in the research process which are always done in order to get the most accurate results.

Definition
ORGANIZED in that there is a structure or method in going about doing research. It is a planned procedure, not a spontaneous one. It is focused and limited to a specific scope. FINDING ANSWERS is the end of all research. Whether it is the answer to a hypothesis or research is successful when we find answers. Sometimes the answer is no, but it is still an answer.

Definition
QUESTIONS are central to research. If there is no question, then the answer is of no use. Research is focused on relevant, useful, and important questions. Without a question, research has no focus, drive, or purpose.

Method of Conducting Research


Psychologists and other researchers use the scientific method to conduct studies and research in psychology. The basic process for conducting psychology research involves asking a question, designing a study, collecting data, analyzing results, reaching conclusions and sharing the findings. Learn more about each step of psychology research in...

Method of Conducting Research


The first step of the scientific method is to form a hypothesis. The second step of the scientific method involves designing an study and collecting data. This step of the scientific method involves examining the data that has been collected and drawing conclusions. The final step of the scientific method is to report the results of the study.

Definition of Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a tentative statement that proposes a possible explanation to some phenomenon or event. A useful hypothesis is a testable statement which may include a prediction.

Research Method
The experimental method is a systematic and scientific approach to research in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables, and controls and measures any change in other variables.

CONDUCTING THE EXPERIMENT


An experiment is typically carried out by manipulating a variable, called the independent variable, affecting the experimental group. The effect that the researcher is interested in, the dependent variable(s) is measured.

CONDUCTING AN EXPERIMENT
Identifying and controlling non-experimental factors which the researcher does not want to influence the effects, is crucial to drawing a valid conclusion. This is often done by controlling variables if possible, or randomizing variables to minimize effects that can be traced back to third variables. Researchers only want to measure the effect of the independent variable(s) when conducting an experiment, allowing them to conclude that this was the reason for the effect

Case study
Thomas offers the following definition of case study:"Case studies are analyses of persons, events, decisions, periods, projects, policies, institutions, or other systems that are studied holistically by one or more methods.

Archival research
An archive is a way of sorting and organizing older documents, whether it be digitally (photographs online, E-mails, etc.) or manually (putting it in folders, photo albums, etc.).

Survey Method
Statistical survey is a method used to collect in a systematic way, information from a sample of individual. Surveys provide important information for all kinds of research fields, e.g., marketing research, psychology, health professionals and sociology.

Survey Method
A survey may focus on different topics such as preferences (e.g., for a presidential candidate) , behavior (smoking and drinking behavior), or factual information(e.g., income), depending on its purpose. Since survey research is always based on a sample of the population, the success of the research is dependent on the representativeness of the population of concern.

Modes of Data Collection


Telephone Mail Online surveys Personal in-home survey Personal mall intercept survey

Naturalistic Observation
Naturalistic observation is a research tool in which a subject is observed in their natural habitat without any manipulation by the observers.

Naturalistic Observation
During Naturalistic observation researchers take great care to avoid interfering with the behavior they are observing .Naturalistic observation involves two main differences that set it apart from other forms of data gathering. In the context of a naturalistic observation the environment is in no way being manipulated by the observer nor was it created by the observer.

Correlational Studies
Correlational studies are used to look for relationships between variables. There are three possible results of a correlational study: a positive correlation, a negative correlation, and no correlation. The correlation coefficient is a measure of correlation strength and can range from 1.00 to +1.00.

Correlational Studies
Positive Correlations: Both variables increase or decrease at the same time. A correlation coefficient close to +1.00 indicates a strong positive correlation. Negative Correlations: Indicates that as the amount of one variable increases, the other decreases (and vice versa). A correlation coefficient close to -1.00 indicates a strong negative correlation.

No Correlation: Indicates no relationship between the two variables. A correlation coefficient of 0 indicates no correlation

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