Planning and Conducting Research

Planning and Conducting Research

Research Question and Hypotheses

  • It’s crucial to formulate an early clear, concise, and researchable question.
  • An alternative hypothesis should predict a relationship between two variables, while a null hypothesis assumes no correlation exists.
  • Remember the difference between one-tailed hypotheses (which predict the direction of the effect) and two-tailed hypotheses (which don’t).

Sample Selection

  • Recognize different methods of sample selection such as random, stratified, and opportunity sampling.
  • Understanding the advantages and limitations of each sampling method allows for better research design.
  • Acknowledge the role of participant characteristics, such as age, gender, and culture, in potential research outcomes.

Experimental Design

  • Get to grips with independent group design, repeated measures and matched pairs design.
  • Compare the strengths and limitations of these three designs, relating to issues like participant variables and order effects.

Variables and Controls

  • Recognize the importance of identifying independent and dependent variables.
  • Understand the significance of operationalising variables allowing precise measurement.
  • Focus on ways to control variables, including the use of standardised instructions and procedures.

Conducting the Research

  • Understanding ethical considerations such as informed consent and confidentiality is key.
  • Be aware of how to collect and record data efficiently to reduce the chance of errors.
  • Consider how things like participant expectations and demand characteristics may influence results.

Data Analysis

  • Familiarize with qualitative and quantitative data and their respective analysis methods.
  • Grasp the basics of descriptive and inferential statistics.
  • Understand the importance of reliability and validity assessments.

Reporting your Results

  • Learn how to write a structured report including an abstract, method, results, discussion and references.
  • Be familiar with APA style for formatting and referencing your report.
  • Understand how to interpret and discuss your results in relation to your original hypothesis.

It’s key to remember that each of these steps are not always linear and the process involves coming back to steps, reviewing, and altering as necessary.