Research methods

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Sample objectives

What this unit covers

• T he features of an experiment.: An experiment is a method used to study how one variable affects another under controlled conditions. Knowledge of different experiment types, such as laboratory and field experiments, is not required.
• T he features of an experiment.: Apply your understanding of experiments to new situations.
• T he features of an observation.: Observation is a method for gathering data by watching individuals. Candidates are not required to know about participant versus non-participant observation or controlled versus naturalistic observation.
• T he features of an observation.: Apply knowledge of observation techniques to new situations.
• T he features of a questionnaire, including questionnaire techniques.: A questionnaire is a data collection method that involves asking participants written questions. Knowledge of postal questionnaires is not required.
• T he features of a questionnaire, including questionnaire techniques.: An interview is a method for gathering data through verbal questions posed to participants. Knowledge of structured, semi-structured, unstructured, telephone, and face-to-face interviews is not required.
• T he features of a case study:: Identify the characteristics of a case study, which include gathering information through various methods such as tests, tasks, observations, questionnaires, and interviews, as well as employing triangulation. A case study is defined as a thorough examination of a specific individual, group, or event.
• T he features of a case study:: Apply knowledge of case studies to new situations or examples.
• Population defined as a group of people with one or more characteristics in common, from: A population is a collection of individuals who share one or more common traits, from which a sample is drawn for research purposes.
• Population defined as a group of people with one or more characteristics in common, from: A sample is a subset of individuals chosen to represent the larger population in a research study.
• V alidity, including subjectivity and objectivity.: Validity refers to how well a researcher is measuring what they intended to measure. Subjectivity means being influenced by personal opinions and feelings, leading to bias. Objectivity means being free from personal opinions and feelings, resulting in an unbiased approach. Candidates are not required to know specific types of validity, such as ecological or temporal validity.
• V alidity, including subjectivity and objectivity.: Applying knowledge of validity to new situations, including strategies for enhancing validity.
• Ethical guidelines used in psychological research:: Researchers must adhere to ethical guidelines to safeguard the rights and welfare of participants. This includes obtaining consent, ensuring valid and informed consent, allowing voluntary participation, providing debriefing after data collection, maintaining confidentiality by keeping participant data anonymous, avoiding deception by not providing false or misleading information, ensuring participants know they can withdraw at any time, respecting participants' privacy by not requiring unnecessary personal disclosures, and minimizing harm while maximizing benefits, ensuring that participants face no more risk than they would in their everyday lives.
• Ethical guidelines used in psychological research:: Apply knowledge of ethical guidelines to new situations, including suggestions for enhancing compliance with these guidelines.
• The research process:: The research process involves: establishing a research aim, creating a procedure that includes organizing experimental conditions, setting up the observational environment, implementing controls, and using a confederate (an individual involved in the study who is not known to the participants). It also includes selecting materials such as stimuli, tests/tasks, behavioral categories, and questions. Additionally, it requires evaluating validity and reliability, adhering to ethical guidelines, briefing participants, providing instructions, conducting the research, and gathering data through methods like experimental tests/tasks, observations, questionnaires, interviews, and case studies. Finally, it encompasses data analysis, which includes interpreting results and drawing conclusions.
• The research process:: Utilize the components of the research process outlined in 7.8.1 in new and different situations.
• Use and structure of data tables, including:: Understand how to use and organize data tables, including the components such as rows, columns, row headings, column headings, and appropriate units.
• Use and structure of data tables, including:: Apply knowledge of data tables to new situations, where information may be presented in written form, tables, or bar charts.