Overview
This lecture covers the methods of enquiry in psychology, including research goals, data types, research methods, data analysis, limitations, and ethical considerations.
Goals and Steps of Psychological Enquiry
- Psychological enquiry aims for description, prediction, explanation, control of behaviour, and application of knowledge.
- Steps in scientific enquiry: conceptualising a problem, collecting data, analysing data, drawing and revising conclusions.
- Hypotheses provide tentative answers and guide research focus.
Nature and Types of Psychological Data
- Data in psychology includes demographic, physical, physiological, and psychological information.
- Data is context-bound and subject to interpretation by researchers.
Major Methods of Psychological Enquiry
- Observation Method: Involves selection, recording, and analysis of specific behaviours in naturalistic or controlled settings.
- Experimental Method: Establishes cause-effect between independent (manipulated) and dependent (measured) variables using experimental/control groups.
- Correlational Research: Examines relationships between variables, yielding positive, negative, or zero correlations.
- Survey Research: Uses interviews or questionnaires to assess attitudes, opinions, or facts from large groups.
- Psychological Testing: Standardised tools for measuring individual differences (e.g., intelligence, aptitude), requiring reliability, validity, and norms.
- Case Study: In-depth analysis of a single individual, group, event, or institution for detailed understanding.
Data Analysis Methods
- Quantitative Methods: Use statistics to analyse numerical data (means, correlations, etc.).
- Qualitative Methods: Use narrative or content analysis for descriptive, non-numerical data.
Limitations of Psychological Enquiry
- Lack of true zero point in measurement; scores are relative, not absolute.
- Psychological tools may be context-specific and not universally valid.
- Interpretation of qualitative data is subjective and may vary between researchers.
Ethical Issues in Research
- Participation must be voluntary, with informed consent and the right to withdraw.
- Participants must be debriefed and results shared post-study.
- Confidentiality of participants' identities and data must be strictly maintained.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Hypothesis — a tentative answer or explanation, to be tested.
- Variable — characteristic that can vary; includes independent and dependent types.
- Reliability — consistency of a test’s results over time or within itself.
- Validity — degree to which a test measures what it claims to.
- Quantitative method — statistical/numerical analysis of data.
- Qualitative method — descriptive or thematic analysis of data.
- Informed consent — participants’ understanding and agreement before taking part in research.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Conduct a survey of after-school activities among different classes; analyse time use and report conclusions.
- Design and carry out an experiment on recitation’s effect on learning, identifying research method, hypothesis, and variables.
- Review study questions on research methods, data types, and ethical considerations.