Overview of Research and

Data Collection Methods

Field Methods in Psychology

• field methods refer to research approaches and

data collection methods in order to gather data
or information
• The collected “data and information” will be
relevant in fulfilling the goals of the discipline of
psychology
Goals of Psychology
1. To describe behavior
2. To explain behavior (determining the causes of
behavior)
3. To predict behavior
4. To change behavior (for the better)
Lesson Objective

• Distinguish between research methods and data

collection methods
• Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative
research (features strengths, weaknesses, variety,
strategies)
Research Method vs Data Collection Method

• Research Method - overall research design and

strategy
• Method of Data Collection - a technique for
physically obtaining the data to be analyzed in a
research study
Data Collection Methods
(Six most commonly used in psychology)
1. Tests - administering standardized psychological tests to
measure specific variables such as intelligence,
personality traits, or cognitive abilities
2. Questionnaires - collecting data through a series of
written questions that participants respond to.
3. Interviews - collecting data through direct, face-to-face,
telephone, or online communication with participants.
Data Collection Methods
(Six most commonly used in psychology)
4. Focus Groups - involves gathering a small group of
participants to discuss specific topics, guided by a
moderator
5. Observation - involve systematically watching and recording
behavior as it occurs naturally or in a controlled setting
6. Constructed, secondary and existing data - other forms of
data constructed by research participants (primary);
existing data initially utilized for a different purpose
(secondary)
What is research?

• Research is a systematic, objective and

comprehensive investigation of certain
phenomenon which involves accurate gathering
and recording, and critical analysis and
interpretation of all facts about the
phenomenon for theoretical or practical end
(Ardales)
 Identification & Definition of a Research Problem
(Literature Review)

Statement of Research Theoretical/Conceptual Operational Definition of

Prob./Obj. Framework Formulation variables

Hypothesis Formulation

H
ARC Choosing Appropriate Research Design

Identification of Target Population and Sampling

RESE

Data Collection
S
CES

Preparation of Reliability Testing Q Administration,

Research and Interview Quality
Instrument Validation Testing & Control
Observation
PRO
THE

Data Processing
(Editing, Coding, Encoding, Creation of Data Files Tabulation)

Data Analysis and Interpretation

(Statistical Analysis, Interpretation, Generalization)

Report Preparation and Information Dissemination

 Other Dichotomies of Research
(David, 2005)

• Pure Basic vs. Applied Research

• Exploratory vs. Explanatory
• Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research
• Descriptive vs. Experimental
Activity: Pair Work
Identify the following research titles as either
Quantitative or Qualitative
1. "Examining the Relationship Between Exercise Frequency and
Stress Reduction in Adults"
2. "Investigating the Influence of Parental Income on Children's
Educational Attainment”
3. "Exploring the Factors Influencing Employee Satisfaction and
Turnover in a Large Corporation: A Mixed Methods Inquiry"
4. “Exploring the Lived Experiences of Teachers in High-Stress School
Environments"
5. "A Survey of Customer Satisfaction in Online Shopping"
6. "Understanding the Coping Mechanisms of Cancer Patients During
Treatment
Identify the following research titles as either
Quantitative or Qualitative
7. "An Ethnographic Study of Homeless Individuals in Urban Areas"
8. "The Effect of Sleep Duration on Memory Retention in College
Students"
9. "An Analysis of the Narratives of War Veterans: PTSD and Healing"
10."The Effects of a Parenting Intervention Program on Child Behavior
and Parental Stress: A Mixed Methods Study"
11."The Impact of Social Media Usage on Teenagers' Academic
Performance"
12.Level of Depression, Anxiety and Stress of the Senior High School
Students of a Suburban Private School
 Research Designs (Creswell, 2014)
Quantitative Qualitative Mixed Methods
Experimental designs Narrative research Convergent
Nonexperimental Phenomenology Explanatory sequential
designs (Descriptive)
Grounded theory Exploratory sequential
Ethnographies Transformative,
embedded, or
multiphase
Case studies
Four World Views (Creswell, 2014)
Quantitative Research
• Quantitative research involves the collection and
analysis of numerical data to identify patterns,
relationships, and statistical significance.
• Built on the Postpositivist perspective
Quantitative Research Designs
Experimental Non-Experimental
Pre-Experimental Design Surveys
True Experimental Design Relational Studies
Quasi-Experiential Design Comparative Studies
Longitudinal Studies
Cross-sectional Studies
Meta-analysis
(and more...)
Quantitative Research Designs
• Experimental Design: Manipulating variables to assess cause-and-effect
relationships.
• Survey Research: Using structured questionnaires to gather data from a large
sample.
• Correlational Studies: Examining the relationship between variables without
manipulation.
• Comparative Research: Examining the differences among groups or population
• Longitudinal Studies: Observing the same subjects over an extended period.
• Cross-Sectional Studies: Collecting data from individuals at a single point in
time.
• Meta-Analysis: Combining and analyzing data from multiple studies
quantitatively.
Qualitative Research
• Qualitative research focuses on exploring and
understanding complex phenomena through non-
numeric data, such as text, images, or observations.
• Built on the Constructivist Perspective
Qualitative Research Methods
• Narrative research is a qualitative strategy in which the researcher
studies the lives of individuals and asks one or more individuals to
provide stories about their lives. This information is then often retold
or restoried by the researcher into a narrative chronology
• Phenomenological research is a qualitative strategy in which the
researcher identifies the essence of human experiences about a
phenomenon as described by participants in a study
• Grounded theory is a design of inquiry from sociology in which the
researcher derives a general, abstract theory of a process, action, or
interaction grounded in the views of participants.
Qualitative Research Methods
• Ethnography is a design of inquiry coming from anthropology and
sociology in which the researcher studies the shared patterns of
behaviors, language, and actions of an intact cultural group in a
natural setting over a prolonged period of time. Data collection often
involves observations and interviews.
• Case studies are a design of inquiry found in many fields, especially
evaluation, in which the researcher develops an in-depth analysis of a
case, often a program, event, activity, process, or one or more
individuals.
Mixed Methods Designs
• Mixed methods involves combining or integration of qualitative and
quantitative research and data in a research study.
• Qualitative data tends to be open-ended without predetermined
responses while quantitative data usually includes closed-ended
responses such as found on questionnaires or psychological
instruments
• Triangulation —a means for seeking convergence across qualitative
and quantitative methods/data
• The field of mixed methods research is relatively new with major
work in developing it stemming from the middle to late 1980s
Mixed Methods Designs
• Convergent parallel mixed methods is a mixed methods strategy in
which a researcher collects both quantitative and qualitative data,
analyzes them separately, and then compares the results to see if the
findings confirm or disconfirm each other
• Explanatory sequential mixed methods is a mixed methods strategy
that involves a two-phase project in which the researcher collects
quantitative data in the first phase, analyzes the results, and then
uses the results to plan (or build into) the second, qualitative phase.
Mixed Methods Designs
• Exploratory sequential mixed methods is a mixed methods strategy that
involves a two-phase project in which the researcher first collects qualitative
data and then follows up or builds on this database with a second quantitative
data collection and analysis.
• Transformative mixed methods is a form of mixed methods design in which
the researcher identifies one of the qualitative theoretical frameworks (e.g.,
indigenous populations, females, racial and ethnic groups, disabled individuals,
and so forth) and uses the framework through the mixed methods study, such
as to establish the research problem, the questions, the data collection and
analysis, interpretation, and the call for action. It is used in conjunction with
explanatory, exploratory, and embedded designs.
 Quanti vs Quali vs Mixed
General Features
Quantitative Emphasizes objective data, statistical analysis,
and generalizability
Qualitative Focuses on subjective experiences, context, and
in-depth understanding.
Mixed Utilizes both quantitative and qualitative data
Methods to triangulate findings and enhance
understanding.
 Quanti vs Quali vs Mixed
Data Collection Techniques
Quantitative Surveys, experiments, structured observations
Qualitative Interviews, focus groups, open-ended surveys,
participant observation
Mixed Combines data collection techniques from both
Methods quantitative and qualitative approaches.
 Quanti vs Quali vs Mixed
Data Analysis Techniques
Quantitative Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics
Qualitative Coding, thematic analysis, constant
comparative analysis
Mixed Integrates data analysis techniques from both
Methods quantitative and qualitative approaches.
 Quanti vs Quali vs Mixed
Research Objectives
Quantitative Testing hypotheses, establishing generalizable
patterns
Qualitative Exploring complex phenomena, generating
theories, understanding context
Mixed Providing a comprehensive view, triangulating
Methods findings, addressing research questions from
multiple angles
 Quanti vs Quali vs Mixed
Strengths
Quantitative Objectivity, replicability, statistical rigor
Qualitative In-depth insights, context-rich understanding,
flexibility
Mixed Enhanced depth, breadth, and validity of
Methods findings, addressing diverse research questions.
 Quanti vs Quali vs Mixed
Limitations
Quantitative May oversimplify complex phenomena, limited
in capturing context
Qualitative Subjectivity, potential for researcher bias,
limited generalizability
Mixed Requires expertise in both approaches,
Methods resource-intensive.
Ecclesiastes 12:12

12 And further, my son, be

admonished by these. Of making
many books there is no end, and
much study is wearisome to the
flesh.