PSY 112 (Introduction to Psychology)
1. Introduction to the Study
2. Understanding Psychology
3. Origin of Psychology (Structuralism, functionalism, psychoanalysis, behaviourism)
4. Psychology as a science; a) Definition of science, b) Characteristics of scientific findings,
c) Understanding hypothesis
5. Branches/Areas of specialization in psychology
6. Research methods in psychology
7. Ethics in psychological research
8. Motivation and emotion
9. Human memory
10. Learning
11. Defence mechanism/personality
12. Brain
13. Revision
UNIT 6
Research Method in Psychology
Definition of Research
Research is defined as a process of arriving at dependable solutions to problems through the
planned and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data (Osuala, 1987).
Fagbohungbe 1986, Asserted that research is referred to as an organized investigation of a
problem, a systematic approach to its solutions or alleviation of the simple, complex, immediate
or long term problem. It could also be defined as an attempt at testing the relationship between
two or more events based on the prior knowledge in an acceptable scientific manner.
Research is also defined as any form of disciplined enquiry that aims to contribute to a body of
knowledge or theory.
The basis of the scientific method is making observations in a systematic way, following strict
rules of evidence, and thinking critically about that evidence. Indeed, science is critical thinking
,in action. The psychological scientist asks: What is the evidence? How good is the evidence?
What are the alternative explanations for the evidence? What needs to be learned next?
Types of Research
1. Survey Method:- Research method that uses interviews and questionnaires with
individuals. Surveys are widely used by psychologists to describe peoples opinions about
a problem, soft drinks, political candidates, and similar subjects (Zimbardo, 2004).
Surveys are frequently used for many other purposes as well.
2. Observational Method:- This is a research method in which the researcher observes how
events occur in their natural environment without an attempt at interfering with the
situation.
3. Evaluation research:- This is a type of research where the evaluation researcher would
first find out what the behaviour was like before the intervention through policy and what
was it after the intervention.
4. Correlational Studies:- This method is adopted when a researcher is interested in knowing
the extent to which two or more variables are related. If they are suspected to have a
relationship, then a correlational method has to be adopted. Example, will there be
relationship between drug intake and criminality act?
5. Experimental Research:- In this method, the researcher is interested in the outcome of the
dependent variable when the independent variable(s) is or are manipulated. In
experimental research, control and manipulation of independent variables are essentials,
so as to associate the changes in dependent variable to the manipulated independent
variables. Experimental Research could be field experiment or Laboratory experiment.
6. Field Studies:- In this type of research, the researcher is interested in observing the
variables and see how they can help in predicting their influence over other variables.
7. Ex-post Facto Research:- In this type, researcher do not manipulate any of the variable,
but the researcher is interested in confirming the degree of the influence of the
independent variables on the dependent variable(s).
Steps in conducting research or research Process
1. Developing a research idea:- The first research process is to develop a research idea and
generating researchable topic of your interest. This can be done through the following
, ways; deductive reasoning or thinking, critical thinking, observing everyday behaviour,
reading scientific journal, novels, books e.t.c.
2. Identifying variables involved in the topic generated:- Variable is a construct or concept
that has been identified as capable of taking two or more values, e.g. gender, personality,
intelligence, criminal intention, academic performance, e.t.c. A variable must be
determinable, that is, must have value and measurable. Types of variable includes:
Independent variable, dependent variable, moderating variable, mediating variable,
control or extraneous variable.
3. Developing hypotheses and research questions:-Hypothesis is a tentative statement which
still awaiting empirical investigation for either accepting or rejecting. It is also known as
a conjectural statement of the expected relationship between two or more variables. It is
possible in a research to set null or alternative hypotheses (Hi or Ho).
4. Choosing a research design:- After developing testable hypothesis, the nest is to choose a
research design which simply means choosing a plan of approaching your study. For
example, you must determine whether to approach the study with correlation method, or
experimental method, laboratory method, survey method, e.t.c.
5. Choosing Subjects or participants:- The next is to determine whether the study is design
for human participants or animal subject. You must decide how to obtain or select your
participants through scientific method of selection and randomize into groups.
6. Deciding on what to observe and appropriate measures:- The next step to decide exactly
what you want to observe, which will be determine by the topic or issues you have
chosen to investigate. E.g. Impact of media violence on childrens aggression.
7. Conducting your study and drawing sample population:- The next is to go to the field and
carried out your study with your participants. That is getting your participants involved
after when an appropriate selection has been done on them.
8. Analyzing the result of research data:- This involves organizing and summarizing the
data from the field. This involves number of decisions. There are some available software
that psychologist engaged to analyse their results which include SPSS, STAT, EXCEL
e.t.c.
1. Introduction to the Study
2. Understanding Psychology
3. Origin of Psychology (Structuralism, functionalism, psychoanalysis, behaviourism)
4. Psychology as a science; a) Definition of science, b) Characteristics of scientific findings,
c) Understanding hypothesis
5. Branches/Areas of specialization in psychology
6. Research methods in psychology
7. Ethics in psychological research
8. Motivation and emotion
9. Human memory
10. Learning
11. Defence mechanism/personality
12. Brain
13. Revision
UNIT 6
Research Method in Psychology
Definition of Research
Research is defined as a process of arriving at dependable solutions to problems through the
planned and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data (Osuala, 1987).
Fagbohungbe 1986, Asserted that research is referred to as an organized investigation of a
problem, a systematic approach to its solutions or alleviation of the simple, complex, immediate
or long term problem. It could also be defined as an attempt at testing the relationship between
two or more events based on the prior knowledge in an acceptable scientific manner.
Research is also defined as any form of disciplined enquiry that aims to contribute to a body of
knowledge or theory.
The basis of the scientific method is making observations in a systematic way, following strict
rules of evidence, and thinking critically about that evidence. Indeed, science is critical thinking
,in action. The psychological scientist asks: What is the evidence? How good is the evidence?
What are the alternative explanations for the evidence? What needs to be learned next?
Types of Research
1. Survey Method:- Research method that uses interviews and questionnaires with
individuals. Surveys are widely used by psychologists to describe peoples opinions about
a problem, soft drinks, political candidates, and similar subjects (Zimbardo, 2004).
Surveys are frequently used for many other purposes as well.
2. Observational Method:- This is a research method in which the researcher observes how
events occur in their natural environment without an attempt at interfering with the
situation.
3. Evaluation research:- This is a type of research where the evaluation researcher would
first find out what the behaviour was like before the intervention through policy and what
was it after the intervention.
4. Correlational Studies:- This method is adopted when a researcher is interested in knowing
the extent to which two or more variables are related. If they are suspected to have a
relationship, then a correlational method has to be adopted. Example, will there be
relationship between drug intake and criminality act?
5. Experimental Research:- In this method, the researcher is interested in the outcome of the
dependent variable when the independent variable(s) is or are manipulated. In
experimental research, control and manipulation of independent variables are essentials,
so as to associate the changes in dependent variable to the manipulated independent
variables. Experimental Research could be field experiment or Laboratory experiment.
6. Field Studies:- In this type of research, the researcher is interested in observing the
variables and see how they can help in predicting their influence over other variables.
7. Ex-post Facto Research:- In this type, researcher do not manipulate any of the variable,
but the researcher is interested in confirming the degree of the influence of the
independent variables on the dependent variable(s).
Steps in conducting research or research Process
1. Developing a research idea:- The first research process is to develop a research idea and
generating researchable topic of your interest. This can be done through the following
, ways; deductive reasoning or thinking, critical thinking, observing everyday behaviour,
reading scientific journal, novels, books e.t.c.
2. Identifying variables involved in the topic generated:- Variable is a construct or concept
that has been identified as capable of taking two or more values, e.g. gender, personality,
intelligence, criminal intention, academic performance, e.t.c. A variable must be
determinable, that is, must have value and measurable. Types of variable includes:
Independent variable, dependent variable, moderating variable, mediating variable,
control or extraneous variable.
3. Developing hypotheses and research questions:-Hypothesis is a tentative statement which
still awaiting empirical investigation for either accepting or rejecting. It is also known as
a conjectural statement of the expected relationship between two or more variables. It is
possible in a research to set null or alternative hypotheses (Hi or Ho).
4. Choosing a research design:- After developing testable hypothesis, the nest is to choose a
research design which simply means choosing a plan of approaching your study. For
example, you must determine whether to approach the study with correlation method, or
experimental method, laboratory method, survey method, e.t.c.
5. Choosing Subjects or participants:- The next is to determine whether the study is design
for human participants or animal subject. You must decide how to obtain or select your
participants through scientific method of selection and randomize into groups.
6. Deciding on what to observe and appropriate measures:- The next step to decide exactly
what you want to observe, which will be determine by the topic or issues you have
chosen to investigate. E.g. Impact of media violence on childrens aggression.
7. Conducting your study and drawing sample population:- The next is to go to the field and
carried out your study with your participants. That is getting your participants involved
after when an appropriate selection has been done on them.
8. Analyzing the result of research data:- This involves organizing and summarizing the
data from the field. This involves number of decisions. There are some available software
that psychologist engaged to analyse their results which include SPSS, STAT, EXCEL
e.t.c.
