This topic includes experimental and non-experimental research methods, such as surveys, observations, and case studies, to collect empirical data.
Scientific Method: A standardized method for conducting empirical research, consisting of procedures for developing theories, formulating hypotheses, designing research studies, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.
Epistemology: The philosophical study of knowledge and belief, including the nature of truth, skepticism, justification, and certainty.
Research Ethics: The moral principles and guidelines that govern the conduct of research, including informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, manipulation, and deception.
Measurement and Scaling: The process of defining, operationalizing, and measuring psychological constructs using various scales and instruments, such as self-report measures, behavioral observations, physiological recordings, and cognitive tests.
Sampling and Generalization: The process of selecting a subset of the population to be studied, ensuring that the sample is representative and diverse, and making inferences about the population based on the results.
Experimental Designs: The various types of experimental designs, including randomized control trials, pretest-posttest designs, factorial designs, and within-subjects designs, and their advantages and disadvantages.
Non-Experimental Designs: The various types of non-experimental designs, including correlational studies, quasi-experimental designs, case studies, and surveys, and their advantages and disadvantages.
Data Analysis: The various methods of analyzing psychological data, including descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, regression analysis, factor analysis, and meta-analysis.
Reliability and Validity: The concepts of reliability and validity in measurement, including sources of measurement error, methods of assessing reliability and validity, and the implications of unreliable or invalid measures.
Effect Sizes and Power: The concepts of effect size and power in hypothesis testing, including their calculations, interpretations, and applications.
Writing and Communicating Research: The skills and conventions required for writing and presenting research in academic journals and conferences, including the structure, style, and content of research reports.
Experimental: Involves manipulating an independent variable and measuring the effect on a dependent variable, while controlling for extraneous variables.
Correlational: Examines the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating them.
Observational: Involves observing and recording behavior in natural or controlled settings.
Survey: Uses questionnaires or interviews to gather data from a sample of participants.
Case Study: In-depth study of an individual, group or situation.
Longitudinal study: Follows a group of people over an extended period of time, collecting data multiple times.
Quasi-Experimental: Similar to experimental research, but different in that participants are not randomly assigned.
Meta-Analysis: Statistical analysis of multiple studies to determine overall trends and patterns.
Content Analysis: Analyzing and coding words, themes or patterns in written or verbal communication.
Action Research: Involves conducting research to improve a specific group or organization through collaboration between researchers and group members.