Research methods in psychology

Understanding research methods in psychology is crucial to exploring how people think, feel, and behave. These methods guide how psychologists collect and interpret information, as well as provide amateurs and enthusiasts alike with a clear view of what the psychologists do to gather valuable insights and evidence-based data for their research. Whether we are talking about the experiments type of research, a case study, or a specific kind of test, each approach deserves its fair share of attention and appreciation.

If you are a student writing an assignment or planning to write a paper for me, you need to understand that these requirements will make your paper completely ethical, acceptable, and credible to the majority of experienced researchers who faced the same challenges when gathering data for behavior analysis and cognitive testing. There are different types of psychological research methods that work well with the goals you have established for your research. All of these methods will be dissected and deconstructed below to demonstrate their effectiveness in scholarly research.

Experimental research

Experimental research is one of the research methods in psychology where the researcher manipulates one variable to monitor its impact on another variable (the impact of an independent variable on the dependent variable). This helps establish a proper cause-and-effect relationship between variables in psychology research. 

Experimental research can be applied in the following fields:

• Educational testing for students
• Behavioral intentions when studying clinical behaviors
• Mental health research that can be used for therapy sessions
• Social psychology experiments that will examine the nature of conformity

This method is considered one of the most rigorous and controlled among all types of research methods in psychology. It is known for its high validity and should often be transferred to experimental labs because of the volatility of the research outcomes.

Descriptive research

Descriptive research is one of the types of psychological research that document and describe psychological phenomena without the inclusion of the variables. Many researchers refer to this method as a series of observational studies meant to preserve the current condition of a phenomenon rather than study causes and effects. 

Descriptive research can be applied in the following fields:

• One can use research to observe behavioral patterns in the classroom
• Academics use this to document symptoms in clinical populations
• The descriptive method is also used to monitor demographic traits
• Descriptive research methods can be applied to creating a psychology profile

If you are writing a psychology research paper as a college assignment, you will need the descriptive research method for large-scale observations of behavioral patterns in classroom settings as well as clinical populations.

Correlational research

One of the psychological research methods that proved its high efficiency is the correlational research method. The correlational research method examines two variables selected for analysis. The purpose of the research is to determine whether the variables are related. The following method identifies associations but does not imply causation.

Correlational research can be applied in the following fields:

• Exploring the relation between social media and mental health issues
• Exploring how the quality of sleep is related to the success of one’s academic performance 
• Conduct surveys on how self-esteem is related to personal happiness in a relationship
• Selecting psychology dissertation topics that explore the links between personality traits and success

This type of research is usually applied when the researcher is interested in data collection on a large scale. Correlational research is the psychology research method that is known for giving birth to a myriad of theories that can be later viewed through the lens of feasibility and provability.

Qualitative vs quantitative research 

Two research methods widely used by psychologists are qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative research is all about open-ended data that includes personal interviews and observations that do not contain numerical or statistical data. It is one of the most popular psychology research methods used to define the hidden meanings and understand the nature of how things work.

Quantitative research includes statistical data and numerical analysis. It revolves around hands-on, practical tools that include research methods like surveys and experiments.

The difference between the methods is obvious:

• The qualitative method is focused on underlying depth and detail
• It provides smaller samples oriented toward empirical knowledge
• Data is only gathered through open-ended channels like interviews 
• This research method has a narrative nature that lends it a descriptive element

Quantitative methods pursue a different goal:

• It always seeks to measure what is known
• It can only function and measure under large sample sizes
• Data is only allowed for collection if structured tools are used in the process
• Data collection methods will always require statistical analysis

When to use each of these methods:

• Qualitative research is typically reserved for new and innovative topics that have never been investigated before.
• Quantitative research is applied when a certain theory needs to be tested or a hypothesis needs to be proven to the general audience.

Given the abundance of different types of research methods in psychology, some researchers use a combined method to capture the multi-layered nature of a specific phenomenon.

Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies

Longitudinal studies

Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies belong to the different types of psychological research. Longitudinal studies monitor and observe the same group of individuals over months. In some cases, the observational period can be extended to years or even decades. The purpose of this study is to discover how their personality traits and behavioral patterns change over time.

The key traits of longitudinal study include:

• Data collected at multiple points during the experiment 
• The research method being perfect for determining cause and effect
• Used primarily for educational psychology 
• Often used to observe the process of recovering from trauma

The most common examples of longitudinal studies are the observation sessions to track language development in children and monitor the process of the patient's recovery after trauma. These studies can stretch over decades so they will always require more funding and rich critical analysis.

Cross-sectional studies

Cross-sectional studies do not collect data over certain periods. They include a data point collected at a single moment of time from different groups and different demographics. The goal of cross-sectional studies is to perform a comparison between groups rather than monitor the reactions and traits of a group over a certain time.

The key traits of cross-sectionalstudy include:

• More cost-effective, especially compared to longitudinal studies
• Perfect if you need to make a comparison of different social groups 
• Common for psychologists who study developmental psychology
• Unable to determine whether any developmental changes have occurred

The most common examples of cross-sectional studies include comparing stress levels among students, conducting a survey among high schoolers to determine their level of stress due to social media influence, and examining how therapy attitudes vary in different cultures.

Naturalistic observation

If you want to buy research papers exploring the naturalistic research psychology methods, you need to start with the definition. This is a very non-invasive and non-intrusive research strategy that requires quiet observation in an environment that cannot be manipulated, rigged, or controlled. The researcher is not allowed to take an active role. They are reduced to the passive observer who simply documents the changes unfolding in front of them.

The key traits of naturalistic type of method include:

• Only real-world settings are chosen for the experiments
• The settings can vary from classrooms to workplaces
• There are no variables or experimentation
• The research is focused on natural behavioral reactions 
• The interactions are spontaneous, not staged

This type of research does not have rigorous control, unlike other methods. It offers high validity and research ethics for all of its participants. Naturalistic observation is often used in early childhood behavioral research or when the psychologists need to understand group behaviour in everyday contexts.

Case studies

Case studies are detailed examinations of individuals or groups that can be conducted using different methods. Most of the time, the participants will be interviewed, tested, and observed for improved examination. Case studies wrting is beneficial for providing valuable insights into rare psychological conditions and identifying complex psychological cases that will be tracked, monitored, and assessed over time. Researchers will use the results of an individual case study to treat patients under therapeutic care and find mental health solutions based on the documentation provided. Unlike naturalistic observation that remains non-invasive and does not allow the researcher to interact with the subject on a deeper level, a case study allows a closer examination of an individual. Case studies are generally used to identify unique psychological phenomena or make significant breakthroughs in psychology as science.

Survey research

Survey research is a research method that implies gathering information from a predetermined group of participants, usually through polls or interviews. This type of research forbids open-ended questions, can be delivered both in person and remotely, and has its outcomes depend on the participant’s willingness to self-report. Unlike experimental research where the environment is meticulously curated and controlled for more effective data analysis, survey research revolves around self-reports from interviewees. The latter complicates the process, as it introduces the level of personal bias into a psychological investigation. Survey research can be used to determine customer satisfaction in marketing and for measuring stress and anxiety in large communities.

How to choose a research method 

Selecting the correct research method depends on your research objectives, ethical boundaries, and data needs. However, making the right choice will ensure that the integrity of your research is protected at all times. Some of the factors that need to be considered include:

• Type of research question. If you need to study cause and effect, you have to go with an experimental research question. Surveys are usually used for naturalistic observation, and in-depth narratives will always require a case study.
• Type of data needed. Numerical data is used for quantitative methods, while qualitative methods demand the use of thematic information.
• Level of control required. If you want your experiment to be fully controlled, choose an experimental research type with high involvement. Naturalistic observation requires lowered control and intrusion.
• Population needed. If you have a single subject available for study, a case study of an individual will be sufficient. For large groups, surveys will be expected as a default setting.
• Resources needed. Longitudinal studies are for long-term effects and outcomes, while cross-sectional studies can be compared to snapshots of the existing psychological state.
• Ethical considerations. If the method is ethically normalized by the majority of the population and does not trigger a negative / anxious reaction among the participants, it is considered ethically approved.

Aligning the method with your goals can make a difference for many research projects, and here is why it happens:

• Once the method is aligned with the purpose, you will not be wasting personal resources or budget
• Once you select the correct method, other researchers will not be able to question your ethical compliance
• The aligned goal means your chances for being published and acknowledged have just significantly improved
• The aligned goal will help you develop a strong argument in your defense if you have to defend your research in front of the audience
• Aligning the method with the goals will help you work on multiple projects simultaneously without procrastinating 

You can also seek expert assistance from specialists who can help you conduct professional psychological research without wasting your own resources.

Conclusion

Knowing the difference between various types of research methods in psychology will help you understand the nature of the primary behavioral patterns and predict mental health outcomes in patients currently under study. Selecting a method that fully aligns with your goals ensures that you have solid professional standing and have assessed ethical challenges before conducting the experimental part of your research. Each methods mentioned above has its strengths and limitations, with some methods rendering complete control over the variables (both independent and dependent), while the minority of experimental methods, the naturalistic study included, does not grant the same level of observation and force the psychologist into a role of passive observer narrating the case study as a researcher behind the scenes.