Psychology Research Methods

Action Research

Collaborative research where communities and researchers identify problems, take action, and adjust based on feedback to create change.

Between-Groups Designs

Research comparing different groups receiving different treatments, usually with a control group to determine treatment effectiveness.

Case Studies

In-depth analysis of one person or group to understand how context and personal experience interact.

Confidence Intervals

Statistical ranges showing the precision of a sample estimate (e.g., mean heart rate CI 72.6–77.4).

Cross-Over / Within-Participants Designs

Designs measuring the same participants multiple times to reduce individual differences.

Cross-Sectional Studies

Studies measuring people once to compare groups; fast but cannot determine causation.

Diary Techniques

Methods where participants record symptoms, behaviors, or emotions over time to track change.

Direct Observation

Watching and recording behavior in real-world settings, sometimes without consent.

Discourse Analysis

Study of how language constructs social reality, including discursive psychology and Foucauldian analysis.

Effect Size

Measure of how large or meaningful a relationship or difference is (e.g., Cohen’s d, Pearson’s r).

Ethnographic Methods

Studying cultures from the inside using observation, interviews, and participation.

Focus Groups

Moderated group discussions that generate interactive data.

Grounded Theory

Method that builds theory from data through coding, comparison, and theoretical sampling.

Historical Analysis

Study of how beliefs and practices change over time using texts and cultural artifacts.

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)

Qualitative method exploring lived experience and meaning-making.

Interventions

Planned actions designed to improve health; require transparent evaluation (e.g., CONSORT, TREND).

Interviews

Semi-Structured

Interviews

Structured

Longitudinal Designs

Studies measuring the same people over time to observe change and causation.

Meta-Analysis

Statistical combination of multiple studies to produce a single effect size.

Narrative Approaches

Methods using personal stories to understand health and illness experiences.

Observational Studies

Studies measuring outcomes without manipulating variables or using a control group.

Odds Ratio

Statistic comparing likelihood of an event between two groups (OR > 1 = more likely).

Participatory Action Research (PAR)

Action research focused on empowerment and social justice, inspired by Paulo Freire.

Placebo Control

Control condition where participants receive attention but no active treatment.

Questionnaires

Standardized sets of items measuring constructs; must be reliable, valid, and sensitive to change.

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

Gold-standard studies where participants are randomly assigned to conditions.

Single-Case Experimental Designs

Designs using repeated measures on one participant with controlled manipulations.

Surveys

Methods collecting standardized responses from a sample; require careful sampling and recruitment.

Systematic Reviews

Structured summaries of all evidence on a topic using clear criteria and transparency.