Research Methods: Foundations and Applications

Acknowledgment of Country

  • Western Sydney University acknowledges Aboriginal cultural protocol.

  • The university respects the traditional lands occupied by:

    • Darug peoples

    • Eora peoples

    • Dharawal (Tharawal) peoples

    • Wiradjuri peoples

  • Acknowledgment extends to the support received from these groups for work conducted in Greater Western Sydney and beyond.

  • Mention of Mrs. Janice Bruny - Tree of Knowledge.

Module Outline

Part 1

  • Types of Research Methods in Psychology

  • The Scientific Method

Part 2

  • Variables in Psychology

  • Reliability and Validity

Part 3

  • Ethics in Psychological Research

  • Cultural Considerations in Psychological Research

Introduction to Research in Psychology

  • An overview of the types of research methods implemented in the field of psychology.

Types of Research Methods in Psychology

Quantitative vs. Qualitative

Quantitative Research Methods

  • Experimental

  • Descriptive Case Study

  • Naturalistic Observation

  • Survey

  • Correlational

  • Brain Imaging

Qualitative Research Methods

  • Ethnography

  • Phenomenology

  • Action Research

  • Grounded Theory

  • Discourse Analysis

  • Content Analysis

  • Mixed Methods

The Scientific Method

Overview of Steps

  1. Question/Observation

  2. Hypothesis

  3. Research Design

  4. Test

  5. Analyze

  6. Publish / Develop

Step 1: Question / Observation

  • Identify a question of interest stemming from:

    • Observation

    • News

    • Reading

    • Existing research

Step 2: Hypothesis

  • Develop a testable hypothesis.

  • It should aim to test a theory.

  • Variables must be operationally defined to provide clear direction for research.

Step 3: Research Design

  • Choose an appropriate design for the study.

  • Example of a data collection tool:

    • DMQ-R (Drinking Motives Questionnaire - Revised)

    • Participants rate their drinking motivations on a five-point scale.

    • Almost Never/Never

    • Some of the time

    • Half of the time

    • Most of the time

    • Almost Always/Always

    • Example motivations include:

    • To forget worries

    • Peer pressure

    • Enjoying social situations

Step 4: Test

  • Data collection process must be thorough.

  • Example: checking for presence of an infant among respondents for demographic data.

Step 5: Analyze

  • Perform statistical analyses on the data collected.

  • Significant findings indicate whether the hypothesis is supported.

  • Example statistics:

    • Percentage of 14-year-olds reporting 5+ drinks at one time:

    • Ever in lifetime: 16%

    • Past year frequency: 14%

    • Fast escalation from first drink to frequent heavy drinking.

Step 6: Publish / Develop

  • Publish findings in a peer-reviewed scientific journal to ensure validity.

  • Develop or revise the theory based on findings.

Part 1 Summary

  • The introduction covered:

    • The types of research methods utilized in psychology.

    • The phases of the scientific method including formulating hypotheses and analyzing data.