Research Methodologies and Data Collection Methods in Psychology and Social Sciences

What are three examples of research methodologies?

Action research, case study, and correlational research.

What are three more examples of research methodologies?

Design-based research, developmental research, and ethnography.

What are three additional examples of research methodologies?

Experimental research, time series design, and ex post facto research.

What are the final examples of research methodologies on the slide?

Grounded theory research, historical research, observation study, phenomenological research, quasi-experimental research, and survey research.

What are the key data collection methods listed in the slides?

Questionnaires, interviews, observation, participant observation, and content analysis.

What method involves written or online forms where participants answer questions?

Questionnaires.

What method involves asking people questions face to face, by phone, or online?

Interviews.

What method involves watching and recording behavior as it happens?

Observation.

What method involves the researcher taking part in the situation being studied while observing it?

Participant observation.

What method involves systematically examining texts, documents, media, or online content?

Content analysis.

If you want to collect quantitative data that can be directly observed, which method should you use?

Observation.

If you want to collect quantitative data that cannot be directly observed, which method should you use?

A questionnaire.

If you want to analyze texts for quantitative information, which method should you use?

Content analysis or online research.

If you want to collect qualitative data about thoughts, feelings, emotions, and perceptions of others, which method should you use?

In-depth interviews.

If you want to explore your own subjective experiences in a setting, which method should you use?

Participant observation.

If you want an in-depth investigation of a particular group or culture, which design should you consider?

An ethnographic or netnographic design.

According to the slides, what is one key 'do' for choosing methods?

Use methods from previously published research.

Why is it recommended to use methods from previously published research?

Because the kinks have been worked out and they are accepted by professionals.

What is one 'don't' mentioned in the methods slide?

Do not try to reinvent the wheel when choosing methods.

What are the four main types of descriptive research designs listed?

Observation, developmental, correlational, and survey.

In descriptive research, what characterizes the observation design?

It is quantitative and focuses on specific, predetermined behaviors that are quantifiable.

In descriptive research, what characterizes the developmental design?

It studies change across time and can be cross-sectional or longitudinal.

In descriptive research, what characterizes the correlational design?

It is quantitative and explores relationships between two or more variables.

In descriptive research, what characterizes the survey design?

It uses a sample of the population that is asked questions to identify general patterns or trends.

What is the main purpose of experimental studies?

To test for cause-and-effect relationships.

How are experimental studies different from qualitative studies, according to the slides?

Experimental studies focus on controlled, quantitative testing, whereas qualitative studies focus on in-depth description and meaning.

In an experimental study, what does the researcher try to control?

All influential factors except those whose possible effects are the focus of the investigation.

Why might many factors be considered in an experimental study?

Because many possible factors might cause or influence a particular condition or phenomenon.

In research, what is a variable?

A quality or characteristic that has two or more values.

What is an independent variable?

The variable that the researcher studies as a possible cause of something else and directly manipulates.

What is a dependent variable?

The variable that is potentially influenced by, or depends on, the independent variable.

In an experiment, which variable is manipulated by the researcher?

The independent variable.

In an experiment, which variable is measured as the outcome?

The dependent variable.