Introduction to

Research Methods

PSYC 1013
Lecture 1
Learning Objectives…
 Explain the objectives and tenets of science
 State the stages of the research process and justify
the order of the stages
 Explain the approaches to research
 Analyze research objectives/abstracts to determine
the approaches used by the researcher
 Explain the criteria used for the selection of research
topics & the processes involved in the articulation
questions
 Compare and contrast the purposes behind the use
of qualitative and quantitative research
Objectives of Science

 To Describe , To Explain , To Predict ;

To Control

 Different research designs allow

researchers to meet the above
objectives
Tenets of Science
 Determinism – the beliefs that events have natural
causes
 Empiricism - rely on evidence to confirm or refute
claims
 Replicability – Before findings are accepted they
must be repeated
 Falsifiability - Hypotheses and theories must be
testable so that they could be shown to be false.
 Parsimony - The explanation for a phenomenon
must be simple. The researcher provides an
explanation that accounts for most of the data with
the fewest assumptions.
Process of Research

 1. Identifying a research problem

 2. Reviewing the literature
 3. Specifying a purpose for research
 4. Collecting data
 5. Analyzing and interpreting the data
 6. Reporting and evaluating research
Approaches to Research
1. Descriptive vs Explanatory

2. Quantitative vs Qualitative

3. Basic vs Applied Research

4. Cross-sectional vs Longitudinal

5. Field vs Laboratory
Descriptive vs Explanatory

 Descriptive = describing a population

of measurements. Inferences are made
from a representative sample.

 Explanatory = answers the why

questions (example accounting for
differences)
Quantitative vs Qualitative

 Quantitative = Measures differences in

the amount of behaviour

 Qualitative = describes differences in

kind or quality of behaviour.
Basic vs Applied Research

 Basic (aka pure) vs applied is best

made by examining the motives of the
researcher

 Basic = simply answering a question out

of curiosity
 Applied = looking to apply findings to
benefit humankind
Cross-Sectional vs longitudinal
Research
 Cross-sectional = conducted at one
point in time

 Longitudinal = conducted over a period

of time.
Field vs Laboratory
 These highlight a difference of control.

 In a laboratory researchers may have

control over most variables.

 The control afforded by laboratory

research makes it more likely that you
will detect a treatment effect or a
relationship between variables.
 Exercise 1
 A researcher has participants rate their
mood on a scale after viewing different
colour combinations. She wonders how
colour combinations make people feel.
How would you classify this research?

 Descriptive OR explanatory
 Quantitative OR qualitative
 Basic OR applied
 Exercise 2
 A clinical psychologist, after reading the
research on colour and mood decides to
conduct his therapy sessions in two rooms,
one painted in warm colours that tend to be
calming and one painted in colours that have
no effect on mood. He hopes that his clients
will be more forthcoming in the warm room.
How would you classify this research?

 Descriptiveor explanatory?
 Basic or applied
 Laboratory or field
Articulation of Topic to Research
Questions
1…A research topic is the broad subject
matter addressed by the study.
Maria, for example, seeks to study weapon
possession by students in schools.

 2…A research problem is a general

educational issue, concern, or controversy
addressed in research that narrows the topic.
The problem Maria addresses is the escalating
violence in schools due, in part, to students
possessing weapons.
Articulation of Topic to Research
Questions
 3…A purpose is the major intent or objective
of the study used to address the problem.

Maria might state the purpose of her study as

follows: “The purpose of my study will be to
identify factors that influence the extent to
which students carry weapons in high
schools.”
 Qualitative or Quantitative?
 The following is an example of a purpose statement
template (see Creswell, 2009; p.114)
 Qualitative or Quantitative?
 The following is an example of a purpose statement
template (Creswell, 2009; p.118)
Articulation of Topic to Research
Questions
 4…Research questions narrow the purpose
into specific questions that the researcher
would like answered or addressed in the
study.

Maria might ask, “Do peers influence students

to carry weapons?”
Should the Problem Be
Researched?
1. Will it fill a gap or void in the existing
literature?
2. Does it replicate a past study but
examines different participants and
different research sites?
3. Will it extend past research or examines
the topic more thoroughly?
4. Will it give a voice to people silenced, not
heard, or rejected?
5. Will it inform practice?
Philosophical world views

 To be continued… Lecture 2 