Research
and Statistics in Psychology
Not
only in the field of psychology, but also in many areas that have interest in
individuals’ behaviors, it’s very common to come across different methods of
research. Research can be defined as
systematic investigation of sources and data, which, combined with the study of
materials and individuals, can establish new facts, ideas, and
conclusions. In general, research can be
seen as a mere gathering of information, but in a scientific setting it must
also involve the examination and analysis of that data. (Cherry, 2012)
Scientific research involves some key elements that
differentiate it from a non-scientific search for information. For instance,
scientific research can be defined as a methodical, systematic study, that
after following a series of steps and standard rules, strive to prove a
specific hypothesis or answer a question. Also, scientific research usually
involves the manipulation of a variable combined with experimentation and
observation. One of the most important elements in scientific research is
organization. (Cherry, 2012)
The
Scientific Method
The scientific method
is an important element in science, which has its foundations on the
acquisition of knowledge. In order to be considered scientific, a research
method must be based on measurable and empirical evidence. Other than that, the
scientific method strives to support a theory when that one is confirmed and
challenge it when it’s proven to be false. The process of scientific method
involves coming up with hypothesis, make predictions based on them, and
conducting experiments to try to confirm or contradict the hypothesis. These
steps are not always followed in this exact order, although they are still
considered general principles of this method of research. (Cherry, 2012)
Primary
and Secondary Data
In order to find
results, every research project needs to compile information. Collecting data
is imperative in the search for answers and explanations, and there are
different ways to gather that information. Surveys, questionnaires and
interviews allow the researcher to communicate with a group of individuals and
try to come up with a consensus on how that sample feels about a determined
subject. The data collected from those surveys is called primary data, since
the researchers obtained those answers by themselves. The main advantage of
using primary data in a research is the possibility to tailor and adjusts the
questions specifically for the purpose of that project. The researchers come up
with the questions that they believe will serve better to their study. However,
one of the disadvantages of using primary data in a study is the cost, as it
can be very expensive to run those surveys.
Another type of data is the one called secondary data, and there are
many ways to obtain this type of information. Many companies keep records of
their employees’ personal information, as well as the Census gathers data from
the population every year. Using the information that was collected by someone
else, for a different purpose, is using secondary data. The main advantage of
using secondary data is the fact that it is inexpensive to obtain, and can be
studied more rapidly. However, it has the disadvantage of making the researcher
look harder for the answers he is looking for since the information was
gathered for different purposes that the study he is conducting. Many variables influence the choice of using
primary or secondary data in a research, like the time available and the
budget. A researcher could also use both methods. (At work, 2008)
Statistics
Another important
element in research is statistics. Statistics can be defined as the science of
gathering, studying and making inferences from data. It is a branch in
mathematics, but is not limited to that area, as the lessons and theories of
statistics can be applied in researches to every field of study. Statistics
allows the researchers to analyze and summarize massive amounts of information
in a way that makes it possible to understand and communicate. Also, one of the
main purposes of statistics is to allow the researchers to draw valid and
reliable conclusions based of the data. Without statistics, it would be almost
impossible to come up with an informed conclusion based on the information
gathered for a research. Other than that, statistics allow the researcher to
interpret the true meaning of the results found in the experiment. (Aron et al,
2009)
References
Aron,
A., Aron, E. N., & Coups, E. J. (2009). Statistics for psychology (5th ed.). Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
At Work,
Issue 54, Fall 2008: Institute for Work & Health, Toronto
Cherry,
K. (2012). Steps of the Scientific Method. Retrieved
from
http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/a/steps-of-scientific-method.htm
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