How does a research psychologist come up with conclusions in his studies?

Steps of scientific investigation:

1. Formulate hypothesis with clearly defined variables. Once you define your hypothesis you have to decide how to design your study. What behavior are you measuring and how will you measure it. Need to define VARIABLES ( something that varies or changes and can be measured and manipulated.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF VARIABLES: This is a definition given to a variable that allows it to be quantified so that it can be measured. The operational definition also allows other researchers to know what is being measured and should allow them to replicate your study.

2. Select research method and design a study. There are three basic research methods employed by psychologists.

a) Experimental Research Design: Involves the manipulation and measurement of variables

b) Correlational Research Design: Examines the relationship between variables ( environmental, physical, social) to explain observed behaviors.

c) Descriptive Research Design: Sometimes referred to as observational research, it involves describing behavior as it occurs in naturalistic setting. There is no manipulation of variables. Observational research also includes case studies which investigate individual subjects in an attempt to establish a relationship between past events and present behavior.

3. Data collection. Maybe through questionnaires, direct observation, interviews, psychological tests, physiological recordings or examination of archival data.

4. Analyze data. Use statistical analysis to draw conclusions which support or refute hypothesis.

5. Report and/or publish findings. Reporting of findings allows information to be shared and critiqued. Usually scientific research is published in a scientific journal relevant to the area of research. JOURNALS are periodicals that publish technical and scholarly material, usually in a narrowly defined area of study.

The two main advantages of the scientific approach are:

a) Clarity and precision. Clearly defined objectives and measures

b) Intolerance of errors. Peers will be very critical. Data must objective and documentation thorough. Also experiment should be reproducible. In other Words other scientists should be able to test the same hypothesis in the same way and come up with the same findings.