Research Tips

Q2
They can tell us about the direction of the relationship, the form (shape) of the relationship, and the
degree (strength) of the relationship between two variables. The Direction of a Relationship The
correlation measure tells us about the direction of the relationship between the two variables.
Researchers in psychology often include multiple dependent variables in their studies. The primary
reason is that this easily allows them to answer more research questions with minimal additional
effort.
When an independent variable is a construct that is manipulated indirectly, it is a good idea to include
a manipulation check. This is a measure of the independent variable typically given at the end of the
procedure to confirm that it was successfully manipulated.
Multiple measures of the same construct can be analyzed separately or combined to produce a single
multiple-item measure of that construct. The latter approach requires that the measures taken together
have good internal consistency.
Measures of Different Constructs

Often a researcher wants to know how an independent variable affects several distinct
dependent variables. For example, Schnall and her colleagues were interested in how feeling
disgusted affects the harshness of people’s moral judgments, but they were also curious about
how disgust affects other variables, such as people’s willingness to eat in a restaurant. As
another example, researcher Susan Knasko was interested in how different odours affect
people’s behaviour (Knasko, 1992)[1]. She conducted an experiment in which the independent
variable was whether participants were tested in a room with no odour or in one scented with
lemon, lavender, or dimethyl sulfide (which has a cabbage-like smell). Although she was
primarily interested in how the odours affected people’s creativity, she was also curious about
how they affected people’s moods and perceived health—and it was a simple enough matter
to measure these dependent variables too. Although she found that creativity was unaffected
by the ambient odour, she found that people’s moods were lower in the dimethyl sulfide
condition, and that their perceived health was greater in the lemon condition.
Q3 Online Research Panels and Online Research Communities are two types of online research
communities. Two methods for doing research are research panels and research communities.
Whereas research panels are mostly used for qualitative research, research communities are mostly
utilized for quantitative data.
Remember to rely on observation if you are unable to obtain excellent data through surveys,
interviews, or group discussions. It is the most effective and reliable qualitative data collecting
approach for generating qualitative data since it involves little to no effort from the participants.
Q4 IMPACT OF RESEARCH DESIGN
Impactful research usually creates a minimum bias in data and increases trust in the accuracy of
collected data. A design that produces the slightest margin of error in experimental research is
generally considered the desired outcome. The essential elements are: Accurate purpose statement.
A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research aims, that you
collect high-quality data, and that you use the right kind of analysis to answer your questions,
utilizing credible sources. This allows you to draw valid, trustworthy conclusions.
Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio)
to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a
problem or generate new ideas for research.
Qualitative research is the opposite of quantitative research, which involves collecting and analyzing
numerical data for statistical analysis.
Qualitative research is commonly used in the humanities and social sciences, in subjects such as
anthropology, sociology, education, health sciences, history, etc.
Hypothesis testing is a formal procedure for investigating our ideas about the world
using statistics. It is most often used by scientists to test specific predictions,
called hypotheses, that arise from theories.
There are 5 main steps in hypothesis testing:
State your research hypothesis as a null hypothesis and alternate hypothesis (Ho) and (Ha or H1).
Collect data in a way designed to test the hypothesis.
Perform an appropriate statistical test.
Decide whether to reject or fail to reject your null hypothesis.
Present the findings in your results and discussion section.
Data collection is a systematic process of gathering observations or measurements. Whether you are
performing research for business, governmental or academic purposes, data collection allows you to
gain first-hand knowledge and original insights into your research problem.
While methods and aims may differ between fields, the overall process of data collection remains
largely the same. Before you begin collecting data, you need to consider:
The aim of the research
The type of data that you will collect

The methods and procedures you will use to collect, store, and process the data
To collect high-quality data that is relevant to your purposes, follow these four steps.
Understanding reliability vs validity
Reliability and validity are closely related, but they mean different things. A measurement can be
reliable without being valid. However, if a measurement is valid, it is usually also reliable.
WHAT IS RELIABILITY?
Reliability refers to how consistently a method measures something. If the same result can be
consistently achieved by using the same methods under the same circumstances, the measurement is
considered reliable.
What is validity?
Validity refers to how accurately a method measures what it is intended to measure. If research has
high validity, that means it produces results that correspond to real properties, characteristics, and
variations in the physical or social world.
High reliability is one indicator that a measurement is valid. If a method is not reliable, it probably
isn’t valid.
If the thermometer shows different temperatures each time, even though you have carefully controlled
conditions to ensure the sample’s temperature stays the same, the thermometer is probably
malfunctioning, and therefore its measurements are not valid.
If a symptom questionnaire results in a reliable diagnosis when answered at different times and with
different doctors, this indicates that it has high validity as a measurement of the medical condition.
However, reliability on its own is not enough to ensure validity. Even if a test is reliable, it may not
accurately reflect the real situation.
The thermometer that you used to test the sample gives reliable results. However, the thermometer has
not been calibrated properly, so the result is 2 degrees lower than the true value. Therefore, the
measurement is not valid.
Sampling Methods | Types, Techniques & Examples
Published on September 19, 2019 by Shona McCombes. Revised on July 20, 2022.
When you conduct research about a group of people, it’s rarely possible to collect data from every
person in that group. Instead, you select a sample. The sample is the group of individuals who will
actually participate in the research.
To draw valid conclusions from your results, you have to carefully decide how you will select a
sample that is representative of the group as a whole. There are two types of sampling methods:
Probability sampling involves random selection, allowing you to make strong statistical inferences
about the whole group.
Non-probability sampling involves non-random selection based on convenience or other criteria,

allowing you to easily collect data.
You should clearly explain how you selected your sample in the methodology section of your paper
or thesis.
Mixed Methods Research | Definition, Guide & Examples
Published on August 13, 2021 by Tegan George. Revised on July 21, 2022.
Mixed methods research combines elements of quantitative research and qualitative research in

order to answer your research question. Mixed methods can help you gain a more complete picture
than a standalone quantitative or qualitative study, as it integrates benefits of both methods.
Mixed methods research is often used in the behavioral, health, and social sciences, especially in
multidisciplinary settings and complex situational or societal research.

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Q2

Measures of Different Constructs

There are 5 main steps in hypothesis testing:

Collect data in a way designed to test the hypothesis.

Perform an appropriate statistical test.

Decide whether to reject or fail to reject your null hypothesis.

Present the findings in your results and discussion section.

The aim of the research

The type of data that you will collect

Understanding reliability vs validity

Sampling Methods | Types, Techniques & Examples

Non-probability sampling involves non-random selection based on convenience or other criteria,

Mixed Methods Research | Definition, Guide & Examples

Mixed methods research combines elements of quantitative research and qualitative research in

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