Summary Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences, ISBN: 9781337672023 PSYC301- measurements, experiments and observations. (PSYC301)

PSYC 301
EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH
DESIGN
LECTURE 6

, RECAP
• In Ch6 (lecture 1) we identified five basic research strategie
• We spoke a little bit about the correlational research strateg
o In a correlational research strategy the researcher exami
the relationship/s between two or more variables.
o It seeks to determine if two or more variables are related
and if so, in what way.
o The researcher looks for consistent patterns in the data t
provide evidence for a relationship between variables.
o Note: correlational research only attempts to describe th
relationship between two (or more) variables, and NOT
explain them.

, • For example,
o Studying the relationship between student academic
performance and family income.
o The two variables: 1) academic performance and 2) fam
income.
o High school records to determine academic performance
and survey families to obtain a measure of income.
o The researcher would then look for consistent patterns
the data to provide evidence for the relationship betwe
variables.