Scientific research methodologies

• Investigation/research methodologies


  The different processes, techniques and types of studies researchers use to study psychological phenomena
• Controlled experiments


  • A type of investigation in which the cause-effect relationship between the independent and dependent variable is tested in a controlled environment
  • Includes a control group as a baseline for comparison
  • Aims to control variables other than the independent variable that may affect the dependent variable
• Advantages of controlled experiments


  • If there is a high control of conditions and variables, can draw conclusions about casual relationships
  • Can be quicker than conducting research in real-world settings
• Disadvantages of controlled experiments


  • A highly controlled setting may not reflect real life, and may affect participants' responses
  • Can be affected by researcher error
  • Can be time-consuming and expensive to manipulate and measure certain variables
  • Errors can still occur
• Case study


  A type of non-experimental investigation in which there is an in-depth study of an individual, group or particular phenomenon that contains a situation and includes the complexities that would be encountered in the real world
• Types of case studies


  • Historical
  • Real situation
  • Role-play of a hypothetical situation
  • Problem-solving
• Advantages of case studies


  • Useful when a phenomenon is rare or hard to study repeatedly with a larger group of people
  • Provide highly detailed, rich information
• Disadvantages of case studies


  • Results cannot be generalised to a wider population
  • Subject to research bias and errors
  • Can be time-consuming
• Correlational studies


  A type of non-experimental investigation in which researchers observe and measure the relationship between variables without any active control or manipulation of them
• Advantages of correlational studies


  • No manipulation of variables required
  • Can be conducted to in naturalistic settings, so findings are applicable to the real world
• Disadvantages of correlational studies


  • Cannot draw conclusions about cause and effect
  • Can be subject to the influence of extraneous variables
• Components of controlled experiments


  • At least one experimental group: the group of participants who are exposed to an experimental condition in which an independent variable is manipulated
  • A control group: the group of participants who are exposed to the control condition in which there is no experimental treatment (absence of the independent variable) to serve as a baseline for comparison
• Types of controlled experiment designs


  • Within-subjects design
  • Between-subjects design
  • Mixed design
• Within-subjects design


  A controlled experiment design in which all participants complete all conditions
• Advantages of within-subjects design


  • Removes effect of participant-related variables
  • Less people are needed
  • Good for real-world settings and phenomena where differences are measured through a pre-measurement and post-measurement
• Disadvantages of within-subjects design


  • Can produce order effects (which can be removed by counterbalancing)
  • A participant dropping out has a greater impact on the study
• Between-subjects design


  A controlled experiment design in which participants are divided into different groups and complete only one condition
• Advantages of between-subjects design


  • May be less time consuming
  • Does not create order effects
• Disadvantages of between-subjects design


  • May require more participants
  • Participant-related variables may differ across groups, and can be something other than the independent variable affecting the dependent variable
• Mixed design


  A controlled experiment design which includes features of both a within-subjects and between-subjects design
• Advantages of mixed design


  • Allows comparison of results both across conditions, and across time
• Disadvantages of mixed design


  • Can be more costly and time consuming
  • Demanding for researchers and assistants
• Classification


  The arrangement of phenomena, objects, or events into manageable sets
• Identification


  A process of recognition of phenomena as belonging to particular sets, or possibly being part of a new or unique set
• Advantages of classification and identification


  • Allow for creation of theoretical language to describe objects of inquiry, form theories and make predictions
  • Provide common language to communicate about phenomena
  • Help to simplify, explain and describe complex phenomena
  • Helps form more targeted solutions to real problems
  • Helps to form theories and hypotheses about labelled phenomena
• Disadvantages of classification and identification


  • Can over-simplify reality
  • Labels and language can be inaccurate and create bias
• Fieldwork


  Any research involving observation and interaction with people and environments in real-world settings, conducted beyond the laboratory
• Advantages of fieldwork


  • Can be conducted in naturalistic settings, so findings are more applicable to the real world (high ecological validity)
  • Provides rich, detailed data
  • Can use a broad range of different methodologies
• Disadvantages of fieldwork


  • Can be time-consuming and expensive
  • Generally show correlation, making conclusions about cause and effect difficult
  • Difficult to replicate
  • Difficult to control the environment
• Literature review


  The process of collating and analysing secondary data related to other people's scientific findings and/or viewpoints in order to answer a question or provide background information to help explain observed events, or as preparation for an investigation to generate primary data
• Advantages of literature review


  • Provides background information that can inform new studies and hypotheses
  • Allows researchers to understand the current state of research
  • May uncover patterns of knowledge or gaps of knowledge
• Disadvantages of literature review


  • May be time-consuming
  • May be difficult if little research has been done on a topic
• Modelling


  The construction and/or manipulation of either a physical model or a conceptual model that represents a system involving concepts that help people know, understand or simulate the system
• Advantages of modelling


  • Can provide explanatory tools
  • Physical modelling allows researchers to know, understand and problem solve
  • Conceptual modelling can simplify and explain certain phenomena
• Disadvantages of modelling


  • They may over-simplify or inaccurately represent reality
• Product, process or system development


  The design or evaluation of an artefact, process or system to meet a human need, which may involve technological applications, in addition to scientific knowledge and procedures
• Advantages of product, process or system development

  • May meet a human need
• Disadvantages of product, process or system development

  • Can be expensive and time-consuming
• Simulation


  A process of using a model to study the behaviour of a real or theoretical system
• Advantages of simulation


  • Provides insight into potential circumstances and events
  • Allows researchers to view hard-to-see phenomena in detail
  • Allows researchers to see events that might otherwise be too time-consuming, dangerous or impractical to see in reality