lOMoARcPSD|4558719
Research Methodology 104 2021 0 b HMPYC80 Study Guide
Research Methodology (University of South Africa)
, lOMoARcPSD|4558719
HMPYC80/104/0/2022
Tutorial Letter 104/0/2020
Research Methodology
HMPYC80
Year module
Department of Psychology
This tutorial letter contains important
resource material
Bar code
, lOMoARcPSD|4558719
Contents Page
RESEARCH AND LEARNING TOOLS About this resource 3
Learning activity: What is it? 3
Project planning and management 6
Research and course journal 9
Portfolio 13
RESEARCH: OVERVIEW Research: What is it? 19
Ethics 22
Research proposals 39
Scientific journal articles 43
Conference presentations 52
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH PARADIGMS Paradigms 59
Positivism 63
Interpretive research 65
Constructionist research 67
Triangulation 69
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH (Quantitative) Research problems and questions 70
DESIGN & STATISTICS Relational
‑ causal research designs 73
Variables and measurement levels 76
On-line resources 79
Relationship between variables 80
Hypotheses 92
Hypothesis testing 96
Quantitative data analysis 100
<Selecting the appropriate statistic> . 103
<Correlation coefficient> . 106
<T-test> . 107
<One-way analysis of variance> . 108
<Factorial analysis of variance> . 109
<Regression analysis> . 111
<Multiple regression analysis> . 112
<Manifest and latent variables> (Intercorrelation matrix and Factor Analysis) . 113
T-test 115
Correlation coefficient 124
One-way analysis of variance 128
Factorial analysis of variance 132
Regression analysis 144
Multiple regression analysis 148
Latent and manifest variables (Intercorrelation matrix and Factor Analysis) 158
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS & METHODS Qualitative analysis 174
Text: What is it? 180
Observation 181
Interviews 182
Content analysis: An example 183
Thematic Analysis 187
Discourse analysis 191
Ensuring Trustworthiness of the Data 196
Bracketing 198
REFERENCING AND FORMATTING APA6 formatting and style 199
Academic writing tips and suggestions 201
RESEARCH REVIEW INVENTORY (R.R.I. revised) Example and application 204
2 HMPYC80/104
, lOMoARcPSD|4558719
RESEARCH AND LEARNING TOOLS
About this resource
This tutorial letter is a resource that complements the readings in the prescribed book. Each of these
resources is a text about a particular theme, that is sorted into 5 categories: RESEARCH AND
LEARNING TOOLS; RESEARCH: OVERVIEW; SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH PARADIGMS;
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN AND STATISTICS; and QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
DESIGNS AND METHODS. Each section consists of various resources that have a title that briefly
indicates what that resource is about.
Resources can refer to other resources, and such references are indicated by enclosing the title of the
resource between angular brackets (< ... >). For example, if the Correlation Coefficient resource has a
reference to Hypothesis Testing the reference would be embedded in the text as follows: “In
<hypothesis testing> there are a number of different methods ...”. This means you can learn more
about hypothesis testing in a resource called: Hypothesis testing.
The learning activities in Tutorial Letters 102 and 103 have references to these resources. Each
learning activity has a resource section. The resource sections contain the references to the resources
in question. Use the 5 sections and their various resources when you need the information for a
particular learning activity.
RESEARCH AND LEARNING TOOLS
Learning activity: What is it?
A Learning Activity is a key element of the learning model used in this module. The learning model
is the way in which the subject material is presented and the way in which you have to study the
material. You do not have to study the learning model itself. In other words, you will not get
examination questions about the learning model. Your examination deals with the subject material that
is presented by way of this model.
Let us begin by clarifying the terminology that is associated with the learning model. These terms
are:
Learning outcome: A learning outcome describes the purpose of learning. The entire learning
process is geared towards achieving learning outcomes. Learning outcomes
are achieved by producing specific outcome products.
Outcome product: An outcome product is the result of the learning activities a learner engages
in during the learning process. In other words, the learner produces
particular outcome products during the process of learning. The way in
which a learner produces an outcome product is a production method
Resource reference: One requires resources to produce outcome products. For example, one
may require knowledge about certain issues before one can discuss these
issues. A resource reference indicates where a required resource can be
found.
HMPYC80/104 3
Research Methodology 104 2021 0 b HMPYC80 Study Guide
Research Methodology (University of South Africa)
, lOMoARcPSD|4558719
HMPYC80/104/0/2022
Tutorial Letter 104/0/2020
Research Methodology
HMPYC80
Year module
Department of Psychology
This tutorial letter contains important
resource material
Bar code
, lOMoARcPSD|4558719
Contents Page
RESEARCH AND LEARNING TOOLS About this resource 3
Learning activity: What is it? 3
Project planning and management 6
Research and course journal 9
Portfolio 13
RESEARCH: OVERVIEW Research: What is it? 19
Ethics 22
Research proposals 39
Scientific journal articles 43
Conference presentations 52
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH PARADIGMS Paradigms 59
Positivism 63
Interpretive research 65
Constructionist research 67
Triangulation 69
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH (Quantitative) Research problems and questions 70
DESIGN & STATISTICS Relational
‑ causal research designs 73
Variables and measurement levels 76
On-line resources 79
Relationship between variables 80
Hypotheses 92
Hypothesis testing 96
Quantitative data analysis 100
<Selecting the appropriate statistic> . 103
<Correlation coefficient> . 106
<T-test> . 107
<One-way analysis of variance> . 108
<Factorial analysis of variance> . 109
<Regression analysis> . 111
<Multiple regression analysis> . 112
<Manifest and latent variables> (Intercorrelation matrix and Factor Analysis) . 113
T-test 115
Correlation coefficient 124
One-way analysis of variance 128
Factorial analysis of variance 132
Regression analysis 144
Multiple regression analysis 148
Latent and manifest variables (Intercorrelation matrix and Factor Analysis) 158
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS & METHODS Qualitative analysis 174
Text: What is it? 180
Observation 181
Interviews 182
Content analysis: An example 183
Thematic Analysis 187
Discourse analysis 191
Ensuring Trustworthiness of the Data 196
Bracketing 198
REFERENCING AND FORMATTING APA6 formatting and style 199
Academic writing tips and suggestions 201
RESEARCH REVIEW INVENTORY (R.R.I. revised) Example and application 204
2 HMPYC80/104
, lOMoARcPSD|4558719
RESEARCH AND LEARNING TOOLS
About this resource
This tutorial letter is a resource that complements the readings in the prescribed book. Each of these
resources is a text about a particular theme, that is sorted into 5 categories: RESEARCH AND
LEARNING TOOLS; RESEARCH: OVERVIEW; SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH PARADIGMS;
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN AND STATISTICS; and QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
DESIGNS AND METHODS. Each section consists of various resources that have a title that briefly
indicates what that resource is about.
Resources can refer to other resources, and such references are indicated by enclosing the title of the
resource between angular brackets (< ... >). For example, if the Correlation Coefficient resource has a
reference to Hypothesis Testing the reference would be embedded in the text as follows: “In
<hypothesis testing> there are a number of different methods ...”. This means you can learn more
about hypothesis testing in a resource called: Hypothesis testing.
The learning activities in Tutorial Letters 102 and 103 have references to these resources. Each
learning activity has a resource section. The resource sections contain the references to the resources
in question. Use the 5 sections and their various resources when you need the information for a
particular learning activity.
RESEARCH AND LEARNING TOOLS
Learning activity: What is it?
A Learning Activity is a key element of the learning model used in this module. The learning model
is the way in which the subject material is presented and the way in which you have to study the
material. You do not have to study the learning model itself. In other words, you will not get
examination questions about the learning model. Your examination deals with the subject material that
is presented by way of this model.
Let us begin by clarifying the terminology that is associated with the learning model. These terms
are:
Learning outcome: A learning outcome describes the purpose of learning. The entire learning
process is geared towards achieving learning outcomes. Learning outcomes
are achieved by producing specific outcome products.
Outcome product: An outcome product is the result of the learning activities a learner engages
in during the learning process. In other words, the learner produces
particular outcome products during the process of learning. The way in
which a learner produces an outcome product is a production method
Resource reference: One requires resources to produce outcome products. For example, one
may require knowledge about certain issues before one can discuss these
issues. A resource reference indicates where a required resource can be
found.
HMPYC80/104 3
