PSY2004 Research Methods & Ethics in Psychology PSY2005 Applied Psychology Research Methods & Ethics Lecture 3 Research Design Choices

Starting Definitions A systematic approach to finding answers to questions. Research A plan for gathering data for answering specific research questions. Research Design The methods used on the data collected to answer the research questions at hand. Analysis

Design Choices What is the research topic? What is practical?What is ethical? What is the nature of the research question? What is the researcher’s perspective?

The study of being. Raises questions about the nature of reality, ie what exists, what it looks like, what units make it up, how they interact with each other and what counts as evidence. Ontology Is a theory of Knowledge. Refers to the claims and assumptions about the ways in which it is possible to gain knowledge of reality, about how what exists can be known. Epistemology

The Enlightenment Vision (Realism) Reason is human being’s central capacity. The world is completely intelligible. Humans are capable of systematically understanding it’s nature (rationality). Objectivity is possible. A dominant view of reality from the 17th century onwards

Constructionism (Postmodernism/Perspectivism/Relativism) Knowledge of reality is never unmediated. Those who study reality always have preconceptions, motivations & perspectives. Objectivity is impossible. Research involves studying phenomena from a point of view to ascertain its meaning. A reaction to realism.

Realism vs. Constuctionism F or realists the human mind & behaviour are part of the natural world. For constructionists human activity is constructed by the individual & their context (culture) - & in research by the research process itself. Realist research is concerned with the causes of, and systematic relationships in behaviour, constructionist research with the meaning of behaviour.

Data Collection Direct ObservationParticipant Observation (Ethnography)QuestionnaireInterviewPsychological Tests / TasksExamination of Archival RecordsPhysiological RecordingComputer Simulation

Answering Questions about Causes & Systematic Relationships Most often answered by designs that are followed by quantitative analysis of the data collected: Experimental Designs Quasi-Experimental Designs Ex-Post Facto Designs Single-Subject or Case Study Designs Retrospective or Historical Designs Prospective or Time Series (longitudinal) Designs Field or Ethnographic Research Epidemiology Research Designs are employed to answer specific hypotheses (theory-driven research questions).

Answering Questions about Meaning Most often approached with methods that are followed by qualitative analysis: Depth Interviewing Observation Participant Observation (Ethnography) Archival Research Research methods are used to understand subjective experience of individuals or groups.

Validity The extent to which our research findings relate to the factors we believe we are investigating. Internal Validity The extent to which the research findings generalise beyond the people that were part of our study. External Validity

Theory-Driven Research Theories provide a framework for simplifying and describing data in a meaningful way. They are a set of related assumptions from which, by logical deductive reasoning, testable hypotheses can be drawn Theories are judged in terms of their usefulness Clearly stated? Bring together known facts? Enable us to make predictions? Most research is theory driven to some extent (even if just by a theory of the best way to conduct meaningful research).

Bad Research Analysis cannot salvage a poorly designed study!  What is wrong with the question below? “I believe that homosexual marriage is wrong and therefore they should not be allowed to adopt children, live together, or hold hands in public.” Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree

Bad Research “We showed participants angry or clown faces in an attempt to make them angry or happy:”