1. Research in Psychology

2. Quantitative Methods
Quantitative: experiments and studies gathering data with questionnaires and analyzing results with correlations
Seek objective knowledge, gather data with numbers
Have 7 qualities:
intended to be narrow, objective, artificial, highly structured, do not show context of real life, reliable, and have low researcher influence

3. Qualitative Methods
Qualitative: case studies, interviews, observations
Seek meaning and context, do not quantify human characteristics
7 key qualities: (opposite of quantitative)
provide a range of information, are subjective, reflect the natural environment, loosely structured, show context of real life, have low reliability, and have high researcher influence

4. Aim, Procedure, Findings
Aim – purpose of study, what will be studied
Target population – group you wish to generalize your finding to
Procedure – step by step process to carry out the study, must be able to replicate
Findings – how researcher interpreted the data, always open to debate (flaws, bias, other findings, application to various groups?)

5. Participants Participants - people who are in the study
Sample – can’t study the whole target population, so a portion is selected
Representative sample – a subsample that represents the target population
Size matters – too small of a sample can lead to skewed results

6. Representative Sampling
Allows the researcher to generalize the finding to a larger group
Rarely used (difficult to do)
Most appropriate for quantitative studies
Representative sampling is the only kind that allows for the statistical generalization of study results outside the sample
Two examples:
Simple random sampling
Stratified random sampling

7. Simple Random Sampling -Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected. -Assign everyone in the target population a #, then randomly select numbers.
Obtain a representative sample
Often the most desirable sampling method
Easier to generalize findings to larger populations
Random sample may accidentally over represent different groups

8. Systematic Random Sampling
Researcher randomly picks the first subject from the population (must have equal chance of being first subject chosen)
Then each n’th subject from the list will be selected
More simple than simple random sampling
Population will be evenly sampled

9. Stratified Random Sampling
Target population is divided into subcategories that represent a proportion of the total population
Draw random samples from each subpopulation within the target population (ex. IB students 5%)
More accurate reflection of the actual distribution of population
Very time-consuming process

10. Opportunity Sampling sample whoever happens to be there
Easy way to get participants
Often used at universities with undergraduate students
Great chance for bias
What type of people are they?
Is there a gender imbalance?
College students are not typical of the larger population, harder to generalize findings

11. Self-selected Sample made up of volunteers
Relatively easy to obtain
Most likely highly motivated
Rarely reflect the more general population
Not clear the results can apply to people outside the group

12. Snowball Sampling Participants recruit others from friends and family
Used in social psychology
Makes it easier to access participants
Can lack participant variability
Participants will share common traits that may bias the outcome of the study

13. Ethics Participants should be treated in an ethical manner
Informed Consent is required
Slight deception is allowed if it doesn’t cause stress and it’s explained at end
Debrief the aims and purpose so participant doesn’t leave with stress

14. Ethics Right to withdraw from a study at any time
All information is confidential
Protection from potential physical or mental harm

15. Triangulation Make sure there is enough evidence to make valid claims
Studying theories from more than one viewpoint
Greater certainty about findings if similar findings emerge from research using other methods, samples, and data sources

16. 6 Types of Triangulation
Method: use a variety of methods
Time: use a variety of time periods (longitudinal studies)
Observer: research by variety of investigators
Theory: when similar theories have support
Space: study various cultures
Combined levels: (individual, group, society) interpretation of research should span all levels

17. Validity of Findings
Validity – does the research do what it claims to do? Does it test what it claims to test?
Ecological Validity – study represents what happens in real life. If participants do things in a lab that they wouldn’t do in real life, then it lacks ecological validity
Cross-cultural validity – is the research relevant to other cultures or ethnocentric (based on the values and beliefs of one culture)?

18. Reliability of Findings
Reliable – the results can be replicated
For experimental study – procedure is standardized, so another researcher should get the exact same results