Research methods in psychology

Research methods in psychology is about how different types of scientific research methods can be utilised in psychological research.

Overview


Psychology is a science. Psychological research uses the scientific method to systematically investigate and understand human experience and behaviour (Willig, 2019). The scientific method is a systematic refinement of everyday thinking (Einstein, 1936).

A useful distinction is made between research which is:
 * quantitative (using numerical data) and
 * qualitative (using non-numerical data) research.

The approaches represent two sides of the same coin. Or, as Karl Marx wrote: "Merely quantitative differences, beyond a certain point, pass into qualitative changes. - Karl Marx “Capital: An abridged edition”, 1999, p. 322, OUP Oxford"

Though predating the term "qualitative research", early pioneers such as Freud, Jung, and Piaget utilised such methods in their early work (e.g., case studies) and, by doing so, provided the foundation for modern psychology (del Rio Carral & Tseliou, 2019).

Since the first experimental psychology laboratory was established in 1879 by Wundt, psychological research become highly quantitative during the 20th century. During the 21st century, the methods and foci of psychological research have expanded and diversified (Nelson, 2015).

Each research method has strengths and weaknesses, so the selection of which method(s) to use should depend on the aims and nature of the research question.

List of psychological research methods
Many different research methods are used in psychological research, including:


 * Action research
 * Case study in psychology
 * Content analysis
 * Correlational research
 * Delphi method
 * Discourse analysis
 * Ethnography
 * Experiment
 * Exploratory research
 * Grounded theory
 * Indigenous research
 * Meta-analysis
 * Observation
 * Participatory research
 * Qualitative research
 * Quantitative research
 * Quasi-experiment
 * Randomised experiment
 * Secondary research (Wikipedia)
 * Survey research - Survey research and design in psychology