Psychological Research

Paper Code: 
PSY 123
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Objectives:

  • Provide students with the fundamental knowledge of research methods used in Psychology
  • Facilitate students’ understanding for how using valid scientific methods can improve and create knowledge in the field of psychology

Course Outcomes:

  • CO11: Develop a basic understanding of qualitative and quantitative research.
  • CO12: Understanding of various research paradigms like positivism, social constructionism, and more.
  • CO13: Understanding the distinctive features of a select qualitative research methods and plan small qualitative research.
  • CO14: Demonstrating an understanding of interpreting results of research and writing a research report.

 

12.00
Unit I: 
An Introduction to Inquiry:

Dialectics of Psychological Research- Idiographic vs. Nomothetic Explanation, Inductive vs. Deductive Theory, Qualitative vs. Quantitative Data, Pure vs. Applied Research; Paradigms- Logical Positivism, Social Construction, Feminist Paradigm and Critical perspective. Ethics of Research

12.00
Unit II: 
Quantitative Research:

Measurement: Levels of Measurement, Principles of good measurement; Variables: Independent variables, Approaches to manipulate independent variables, Dependent variables, Quasi Independent Variables; Scales of Measurement: Likert scaling, Thurstone scaling, Guttman scale, Semantic differential scale; Psychological scaling methods.

12.00
Unit III: 
Qualitative Research

Issues- Subjectivity, Reflexivity, Power, Validity and Triangulation; Field Research Paradigms- Naturalism, Ethnography, Grounded Theory, Case Studies & Extended case Studies

12.00
Unit IV: 
Analysis of Data:

Qualitative Data Analysis: Linking Theory & Analysis, Data Processing- Coding, Memoing, Concept Mapping, Qualitative Analysis of Quantitative Data; Quantitative Data Analysis- Quantification of Data, Univariate Analysis, Bivariate analysis

12.00
Unit V: 
Interpreting the Results of Research

Interpreting Specific Results- Problem of Scale Attenuation, Regression Artifacts; Interpreting Patterns of Research- Reliability & Replication, Converging Operations. Writing the Research Report: The Quantitative Research Report, The Qualitative Research Report.

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Kerlinger, F. N. & Lee, H.B.(2000). Foundation of Behavioral Research (4th Ed.). Orlando: Harcourt College Publishers.
  • Elmes, D. G., Kantowitz, B.H & Roediger, H. L. (2006). Research Methods in Psychology (8th Ed.). Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth Publications.
  • Babbie, E. (2004). The Practice of Social Research (10th Ed.). Singapore: Thomson Asia Publications.
  • Gravetter, F. J. & Forzano, L.B. (2006). Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences (2nd Ed.).United States of America: Graphic World Publishing Services.
  • Shaughnessy, J.J. & Zechmeister, E.B. (1985). Research Methods in Psychology (4th Ed.). United States of America: The McGraw-Hill Companies.

 

 

Academic Year: 
2021-22
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