QRM-_Unit_1

Unit 1 - Foundations of Quantitative Research Methods in Psychology

1. Introduction to Quantitative Research

  • Importance of understanding quantitative research in psychology.

  • Differentiates quantitative methods from qualitative methods.

2. Topic Layout

  1. Philosophical Roots of Quantitative Research

  2. Purpose and Need of Psychological Research

  3. Definition of Research

  4. History of Scientific Research in Psychology

  5. Research Designs: Exploratory, Experimental, Correlational, and Descriptive

  6. Ethical Issues in Psychological Research

3. Philosophical Roots of Quantitative Research

  • Research Philosophy: Beliefs regarding the methods of data gathering, analysis, and usage.

  • Epistemology vs. Doxology:

    • Epistemology: Knowledge based on true facts.

    • Doxology: Beliefs that may not be factually correct.

  • Objective of science: Transitioning from beliefs to factual knowledge.

4. Need to Understand Philosophical Roots

  • Helps in formulating research problems and questions.

  • Incorporates interdisciplinary scientific methodology literature.

  • Evaluates various methodological ideas not typically discussed in behavioral science.

  • Involves contemporary debates in research methods.

5. Definition of Research

  • Research is described as a systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions related to natural phenomena (Kerlinger, 2004).

6. Characteristics of Scientific Research

  • Systematic: Organized structure in research.

  • Controlled: Isolating variables for clear explanations.

  • Empirical: Focus on objectivity and observable data.

  • Critical: Continuous evaluation of one's results and others.

7. Elements of Scientific Research

  1. Identifying the problem

  2. Review of Literature (ROL)

  3. Setting research questions and hypotheses

  4. Choosing study design

  5. Deciding on sample design

  6. Data collection

  7. Data processing and analysis

  8. Reporting findings

8. Role of Research Questions

  • Essential for understanding research philosophy.

  • Influences measurement methods and variable frequency.

  • Fundamental to comprehending human experiences and beliefs.

9. Goals of Psychological Research

  • Describe: What is happening?

  • Explain: Why is it happening?

  • Predict: When will it happen again?

  • Control: How can it be changed?

  • Application: Find solutions to problems.

10. History of Scientific Research in Psychology

  • Overview of key historical figures and their contributions:

    • Aristotle: Brain’s role in cooling the heart.

    • Hippocrates: Brain as the source of thought.

    • Galvani: Electrical stimulation of nerve.

    • Descartes: Reflexes and dualism.

11. Dualism vs. Monism

  • Monism: Mind and body are one (Plato, Descartes).

  • Dualism: Mind and body as separate entities (Aristotle).

12. Modern Historical Advances in Psychology

  • Key milestones from the 19th century onwards:

    • 1854: Fechner's experiment on signal detection theory.

    • 1879: Wundt establishes the first psychological laboratory.

    • 1890: Industrial applications by Munsterberg and educational theories by Dewey.

13. Overview of Schools of Psychology

  • Historical and modern theories:

    • Early: Structuralism, Functionalism, Behaviorism.

    • Modern: Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Cognitive.

14. Research Methods

  • Quantitative vs Qualitative Methods:

    • Quantitative: Confirming hypotheses, structured methods.

    • Qualitative: Exploring phenomena, flexible methods.

15. Experimental Research

  • Understanding cause (independent variable) and effect (dependent variable).

  • Importance of controlling extraneous variables.

16. Inductive and Deductive Research

  • Inductive: General conclusions from specific observations.

  • Deductive: Testing an existing theory through hypothesis formulation.

17. Survey and Archival Research

  • Techniques for collecting and analyzing self-reported data vs. existing data.

18. Case Study and Grounded Theory

  • In-depth studies focusing on an individual, group, or event to formulate theories.

19. Ethnography and Narrative Inquiry

  • Learning from social interactions and individual narratives to understand lived experiences.

20. Philosophical Paradigms

  • Major Research Paradigms:

    1. Positivism

    2. Post-positivism

    3. Constructivism

    4. Transformative

    5. Pragmatism

21. Summary of Research Paradigms

  • Positivism emphasizes tangible social realities; Post-positivism challenges absolute truths; Constructivism focuses on individual experiences; Transformative tackles social issues; Pragmatism prioritizes research problem solutions.

22. Conclusion

  • Understanding the interplay of these paradigms aids in choosing appropriate methods for psychological research.