Research Methods

Paper Code: 
PSY -141
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
12.00
Unit I: 
Introduction to Research in Psychology
  • Traditions of Psychological Research : Positivism, Interpretation, critical theory, psychodynamics.
  • Paradigms in Psychological Research   : Macro theory and microtheory, conflict paradigm,  symbolic interpretive, structural functionism, Feminist Paradigms
  • Dietetics of Psychological Research : Idiographic and Nomothetic Explanation, Inductive and Deductive theory, Qualitative and Quantitative data, Pure and Applied research.
  • Ethics of Psychological Research : Informed consent and deception, freedom to withdraw, protection from harm and debriefing, removing harmful consequences, confidentially. 
12.00
Unit II: 
Structuring of Research in Psychology
  • Research Methods :  Descriptive observation : Naturalisitc observation, case study, survey research, sources of error in descriptive research
  • Relational Research : Introduction, data for a correlation study, applications of correlational methods
  • Experimental Method  Qualitative field study : naturalism, ethno methodology, grounded theory, institutional ethnography, participatory action research
  • Research designs : Introduction, purpose Types : pretests –post test, variants of basic designs, randomized group, correlated groups       

 

20.00
Unit III: 
Statistical Evaluation of data in Psychology
  • Quantitative Data Analysis
  • Descriptive Statistics : measures of central tendency, measures of variability,  correlation coefficient, regression analysis, normal distribution.
  • Inferential Statistics : sampling, Standard Error Formula (mean, S.D. correlation) testing differences between two groups – t test, F test (one way Anova, two way Anova, ANCOVA) 
  • Non Parametric Tests : Mann – Whitney, Wilcoxan Signed –ranks, chisquare
  • Qualitative Data Analysis : Introduction; linking theory and analysis -  Discovering patterns, grounded theory method, semiotics, conversation analysis; Qualitative Data Processing : Coding, Mamoing, concept mapping; Computer programmes for Qualitative data – Leviticus as seen through NUDIST; the qualitative analysis of quantitative data.     

 

8.00
Unit IV: 
Interpreting the Results of Research in Psychology
  • Interpreting Specific Results : Problem of scale attenuation, regression artifacts
  • Interpreting Patterns of Research : Reliability and replication, converging operations.    
60.00
Unit V: 
Presenting Research Results in Psychology
  • Goal of a research report : General APA guidelines for writing style format : some elements of working style, guidelines for typing or word processing
  • Elements of an APA – style research;  submitting a manuscript for publication, writing a research proposal.     
References: 

1.        David E.G., Kantowitz, B.H. & Roediger H.L. (2006). Research Methods             in Psychology

2.        Gravetter, F.J., Frozano, L.B. (2006). Research Methods for the                       Behavrioual Sciences.

3.         Babbie, E. (2004). The practice of social research.

              4.         Kerlinger, F.N. (2004), Foundation of Behavioural Research.

Academic Year: 
2014-15
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