Research in Context
PSYC2006A: RDAIIB
1 RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGY: ESTABLISHED FORMS
1.1 PURPOSE AND QUESTIONS
Research
• Process of discovering knowledge and seeking to answer questions.
• A form of inquiry that is carried out in a systemic, structured and disciplined
manner (i.e., rigour)
• Formal research has an aim, research questions, follows a research design, and
paradigm/s.
o These elements need to align.
o Begins by identifying an area of interest (focal area).
• A complex process of constantly going back and identifying and aligning
elements. A cynical process.
Purpose
• Formal research typically begins by identifying an area of interest (focal area).
o Personal motivators: individual interests, observation of everyday life,
second-hand observation (previous research), by chance (serendipity).
o External motivators: interests that come from formal research initiatives,
recognised national/international priorities, and policy development.
• After the focal area is identified, an extensive review of related and relevant
theoretical (theory-based) and empirical (research-based) literature. Done to set
the parameters of the study. To develop a rationale (why and aim of research).
• Common purposes:
o Descriptive: to describe the characteristics of existing phenomena.
Qualitative/ Quantitative.
o Correctional: to examine the relationships between different variables.
Quantitative.
o Experimental: to test for cause-and-effect relationships between variables.
Quantitative.
o Interpretive (phenomenological): to interpret and understand different
subjective viewpoints/perspectives of a particular phenomenon, including
their location. Qualitative.
o Constructionist (discursive): to examine human behaviour and the social,
cultural, and political contexts within which it occurs from a political
perspective i.e., to understand how individual and social frameworks
interact to produce different versions of a particular phenomenon.
Qualitative.
, o Activist (advocacy-based): to undertake collective, community-based, self-
reflective inquiry leading to power-sharing and beneficial action.
Qualitative.
• Each purpose is associated with certain types of research questions.
• Some established types of research questions:
o Descriptive research questions (quantitative): How much of variable X is
present in population/ group A? How often does variable X happen in
population/ group/setting A?
o Correlational research questions (quantitative): What is the nature of the
relationship/s between the values of variables X and Y? (association) To
what extent can the value of variable Y be predicted by the value of
variable X? Is there a difference between groups A and B on variable X?
o Experimental research questions (quantitative): Does variable X
cause/affect/create variable Y?
o Descriptive exploratory research questions (qualitative): How does
phenomenon X happen in population/ group/setting A? What are prevalent
interpretations and/or understandings of phenomenon X?
o Interpretive research questions (qualitative): How do people interpret,
understand, experience, and/or make sense of phenomenon/construct X?
o Constructionist research questions (qualitative): How is a
phenomenon/category X constructed? How is a phenomenon/category X re-
constructed or resisted? How do constructions of phenomenon/category X
change over time?
o Activist research questions (qualitative): How is issue X understood,
interpreted, and/or resolved by community A? What can be learnt about
issue X from and by community A and the researcher? How can
empowerment of community A about issue X (and generally) be enacted?
1.2 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Quantitative Research
• Traditional. Linked to the positivist paradigm; shift to post-positivism (critical
realism).
• Purpose: To confirm/establish/validate levels and relationships between observed
variables. To allow an explanation, prediction, and control of phenomena. To test
theories. Develop generalisations.
• Process: Research elements are defined before the study. Research elements are
organised into carefully structured plans. Objective measurements of distinct
variables of interest using standardised instruments. The researcher is as
objective as possible and detached.
• Data Collection: Begins with identifying and isolating variables. Includes a
specific set of hypotheses. May control/eliminate extraneous variables.
Operationalism is dependent on the type of variables. Measures and procedures
are standardised. Reliability and validity are established for the context and
PSYC2006A: RDAIIB
1 RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGY: ESTABLISHED FORMS
1.1 PURPOSE AND QUESTIONS
Research
• Process of discovering knowledge and seeking to answer questions.
• A form of inquiry that is carried out in a systemic, structured and disciplined
manner (i.e., rigour)
• Formal research has an aim, research questions, follows a research design, and
paradigm/s.
o These elements need to align.
o Begins by identifying an area of interest (focal area).
• A complex process of constantly going back and identifying and aligning
elements. A cynical process.
Purpose
• Formal research typically begins by identifying an area of interest (focal area).
o Personal motivators: individual interests, observation of everyday life,
second-hand observation (previous research), by chance (serendipity).
o External motivators: interests that come from formal research initiatives,
recognised national/international priorities, and policy development.
• After the focal area is identified, an extensive review of related and relevant
theoretical (theory-based) and empirical (research-based) literature. Done to set
the parameters of the study. To develop a rationale (why and aim of research).
• Common purposes:
o Descriptive: to describe the characteristics of existing phenomena.
Qualitative/ Quantitative.
o Correctional: to examine the relationships between different variables.
Quantitative.
o Experimental: to test for cause-and-effect relationships between variables.
Quantitative.
o Interpretive (phenomenological): to interpret and understand different
subjective viewpoints/perspectives of a particular phenomenon, including
their location. Qualitative.
o Constructionist (discursive): to examine human behaviour and the social,
cultural, and political contexts within which it occurs from a political
perspective i.e., to understand how individual and social frameworks
interact to produce different versions of a particular phenomenon.
Qualitative.
, o Activist (advocacy-based): to undertake collective, community-based, self-
reflective inquiry leading to power-sharing and beneficial action.
Qualitative.
• Each purpose is associated with certain types of research questions.
• Some established types of research questions:
o Descriptive research questions (quantitative): How much of variable X is
present in population/ group A? How often does variable X happen in
population/ group/setting A?
o Correlational research questions (quantitative): What is the nature of the
relationship/s between the values of variables X and Y? (association) To
what extent can the value of variable Y be predicted by the value of
variable X? Is there a difference between groups A and B on variable X?
o Experimental research questions (quantitative): Does variable X
cause/affect/create variable Y?
o Descriptive exploratory research questions (qualitative): How does
phenomenon X happen in population/ group/setting A? What are prevalent
interpretations and/or understandings of phenomenon X?
o Interpretive research questions (qualitative): How do people interpret,
understand, experience, and/or make sense of phenomenon/construct X?
o Constructionist research questions (qualitative): How is a
phenomenon/category X constructed? How is a phenomenon/category X re-
constructed or resisted? How do constructions of phenomenon/category X
change over time?
o Activist research questions (qualitative): How is issue X understood,
interpreted, and/or resolved by community A? What can be learnt about
issue X from and by community A and the researcher? How can
empowerment of community A about issue X (and generally) be enacted?
1.2 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Quantitative Research
• Traditional. Linked to the positivist paradigm; shift to post-positivism (critical
realism).
• Purpose: To confirm/establish/validate levels and relationships between observed
variables. To allow an explanation, prediction, and control of phenomena. To test
theories. Develop generalisations.
• Process: Research elements are defined before the study. Research elements are
organised into carefully structured plans. Objective measurements of distinct
variables of interest using standardised instruments. The researcher is as
objective as possible and detached.
• Data Collection: Begins with identifying and isolating variables. Includes a
specific set of hypotheses. May control/eliminate extraneous variables.
Operationalism is dependent on the type of variables. Measures and procedures
are standardised. Reliability and validity are established for the context and
