Research Methods

Research Methods: Interview

What is the interview method of research?
The interview method of research, typically, involves a face-to-face meeting in which a researcher (interviewer) asks an individual a series of questions.

What do I need to consider when doing interviews?

Prepare your interview questions in advance, and share them with the participant(s).
Tape record, or videotape record the interview.
Do not be afraid to ask questions if they arise during the interview, even if you did not have them listed before the interview.
After the interview, you will need to transcribe (copy) exactly what was said during the interview. This can be a very slow and time-consuming process, but it is critical that you copy exactly what was said.
After you have copied out the interview, replay the interview again and compare it to your notes. Make any corrections necessary.
Share the written copy of the interview with the participant to make sure that they agree with, and affirm, the contents of the interview.

What are the issues, or concerns in conducting interviews?

Completeness: Did you record the interview and transcribe the interview exactly as recorded?
Accuracy: Did you miss anything? Did you record it in written form exactly as was said by the participant?
Bias: Did you “add” to what you observed by presuming or assuming something that was not stated directly by the participant?
Accuracy: Would someone else who had not interviewed the participant be able to get a clear, correct picture of what was discussed by reading your notes?
Confidentiality: Did you ask permission for the interview, and is the participant aware of the purpose and intended audience of the interview?

What materials will I need?

Journal, note paper, writing materials
Tape recorder, videotape recorder
List of interview questions prepared beforehand.

Research Methods: Survey

What is the survey method of research?
Conducting research using a survey involves going out and asking questions about the phenomenon of interest.

What do I need to consider when doing surveys?

Prepare your survey questions in advance, and share them with your teacher so that they can be checked for accuracy and correctness.
If you are needing additional respondent information such as age, occupation or gender, be sure to include those questions on the survey.
Who is your sample? Will you be getting the kind of information you need from the people you are questioning?
Is your sample size large enough? What sample size is appropriate?
Is your sample representative of the general population? Does it represent a balance between male and female? Do you need to sample a particular age group or will a general survey be alright?
When will you be conducting your survey? How long will you be surveying? Will time lapse make a difference?
How will the respondents answer? Will they record their responses on separate sheets of paper or will you ask them the questions and then record their responses?
How will you present your findings? Will you convert the answers to a percentage? Will you be constructing a bar graph or a pie chart?
If you are considering other factors such as age or gender, then you will need to go through the responses again after you have completed the survey, based on those criteria.

What are the issues, or concerns in conducting surveys?

Do the survey questions address the research question?
Are the survey questions clear?
Is the sample size of respondents large enough?
Have I surveyed a representative sample?
Apart from factors such as age, occupation and gender, are the respondents anonymous?
Is time a factor? How long should I survey? If I surveyed over a longer time period would that affect the results?
Are there other sources against which I could compare the survey results? For example, Taking The Pulse, or Reader's Digest Surveys?

What materials will I need?

Survey questions, response forms
Access to online resources.

Research Methods: Case Study

What is the case study method of research?
A case study is an intensive study of one individual. Typically, the case study may involve interviews, observation, experiments and tests.

What do I need to consider when doing case studies?

Prepare your research questions in advance. What kinds of information do you want to know?
Consider many different forms of information sources: online websites, paper-based sources such as encyclopedias, journals, magazines, newspapers, etc.
If the case study is of a person who can be interviewed, review the following:

Prepare your interview questions in advance, and share them with the participant(s).
Tape record, or videotape the interview.
Do not be afraid to ask questions if they arise during the interview, even if you did not have them listed before the interview.
After the interview, you will need to transcribe (copy) exactly what was said during the interview. This can be a very slow, and timing consuming process, but it is critical that you copy exactly what was said.
After you have copied out the interview, replay the interview again and compare it to your notes. Make any corrections necessary.
Share the written copy of the interview with the participants to make sure that they agree with, and affirm the contents of the interview.

Case studies may also include observational research, experiments and tests. Consider what other types of research are appropriate.

What are the issues, or concerns in conducting case studies?

Completeness of information recorded is critical to gain a complete understanding of the accuracy of the case study. Have I checked every conceivable resource for information?
Because of the variety of information sources, be sure that you have reviewed all of the issues or concerns for each of the research types.
Guard against bias. Did I “add” to what I observed by presuming or assuming something that was not written about, spoken by or observed of the person?
Would someone else who had not studied the participant be able to get a clear, correct picture of what was discussed by reading your report?
Ensure confidentiality. Be sure you have asked the participants for their permission to be studied, and that they are aware of the purpose and intended audience of the case study report.

What materials will I need?

Journal, note paper, writing materials
Tape recorder, videotape recorder
List of interview questions prepared beforehand
Access to online resources.

Research Methods: Naturalistic Observation

What is the naturalistic observational method of research?

In naturalistic observational research the observer does not intervene at all. The researcher is invisible and works hard not to interrupt the natural dynamics of the situation being investigated.

What do I need to consider when doing observational research?

Try to be “invisible”, do not get involved in the dynamics of the situation.
Use all of your senses, not just your sense of vision. Record the sounds, smells and tastes (if applicable).
Record your impressions and feelings. How do you feel while observing? Were you frightened, surprised, anxious, amused, excited? Relate what you were feeling to what you were observing.
Record the context of the situation: place, time, participants, numbers of participants, gender of participants, etc.
Record what you were thinking during the observation. Did the situation remind you of something similar? Had you experienced something similar. What do you think the participants were thinking about while you were observing?
Record all of your information in a journal. Use shorthand or abbreviations if necessary.

What are the issues, or concerns in conducting observational research?

Completeness of information recorded is critical to gain a complete understanding of the dynamics of the situation.
Accuracy of the information recorded is crucial. Did you miss anything? Did you record it exactly as you observed it?
Avoid bias. Did I “add” to what I observed by presuming or assuming something that did not exist?
Would someone else who had not observed the same thing be able to get a clear, correct picture of what you observed by reading your notes?
Respect confidentiality. Be sure not to name people or places in your presentation of the information. You have not asked participants for their permission to conduct research, and so therefore they have the right to remain anonymous. Refer to the general situation; for example, a school playground, an urban mall, a farm, a family gathering, etc.
Videotaping, audiotaping or taking photographs of the situation is infringing on the participant's rights to privacy. Use only your written notes.

What materials will I need?

Journal, note paper, writing materials

Research Methods: Experiments

What is the experimental method of research?
Experimental researchers manipulate variables, randomly assign participants to various conditions and seek to control other influences.

What do I need to consider when doing experiments?

Experimental research in psychology involves defining a research problem, describing a hypothesis, describing the process to be followed, gathering data, analyzing the data, reporting the findings, and stating conclusions in relation to the hypothesis.
Prepare your experiment in advance. Practise your procedure. Be sure that you have all of the materials necessary to conduct the experiment.
Seek permission to conduct research. Does the participant(s) know that you are conducting an experiment? Do you have his/her written permission?
Is the experiment safe? Will the participants suffer any physical, mental or emotional anguish? If so, do not perform the experiment .
Discuss the experiment with your teacher. Your teacher will be able to guide and assist you to ensure that the experimental procedure is correct, complete and valid.
Audiotape or videotape the experiment. This will help in data analysis, as well as provide some additional information that may be of value when interpreting the data.

What are the issues, or concerns in conducting experiments?

Ethics of the experiment: Is the experiment appropriate? Is the experiment safe?
Bias: Did I “add” to the test results by presuming or assuming something that was not written about, spoken by or observed during the experiment?
Confidentiality: Be sure you have asked participants for their permission to be studied, and that they are aware of the purpose and intended audience of the results of the experiment.

What materials will I need?

Journal, note paper, writing materials
Tape recorder, videotape recorder
List of materials needed, prepared beforehand
Written permission forms.

Research Methods: Topical

What is the topical method of research?
A topical research project involves the acquisition, synthesis, organization and presentation of information.

What do I need to consider when doing topical research?

Prepare your research questions in advance: What kinds of information do you want to know?
Consider many different forms of information sources: online websites, paper-based sources such as encyclopedias, journals, magazines, newspapers, etc.
If the topical research involves a person who can be interviewed, review the following:

Prepare your interview questions in advance, and share them with the participant(s).
Tape record or videotape record the interview.
Do not be afraid to ask questions if they arise during the interview, even if you did not have them listed before the interview.
After the interview, you will need to transcribe (copy) exactly what was said during the interview. This can be a very slow, and timing consuming process, but it is critical that you copy exactly what was said.
After you have copied out the interview, replay the interview again and compare it to your notes. Make any corrections necessary.
Share the written copy of the interview with the participant to make sure that he/she agrees with, and affirms the contents of the interview.

Topical research studies may also include observational research, experiments and tests. Consider what other types of research are appropriate.

What are the issues, or concerns in conducting topical research studies?

Completeness of information recorded is critical to gain a complete understanding of the topic. Have I checked every conceivable resource for information?
Because of the variety of information sources, be sure that you have reviewed all of the issues or concerns for each of the research types.
Avoid bias. Did I “add” to what I observed by presuming or assuming something that was not written about, spoken by or observed during the research?
Would someone else who had not researched the topic be able to get a clear, correct picture of what the topic was all about by reading your report?
Ensure confidentiality. If you have interviewed or studied individuals connected with the topic, be sure you have asked for their permission to be studied. Ensure that they are aware of the purpose and intended audience of your study.

What materials will I need?

Journal, note paper, writing materials
Tape recorder, videotape recorder
List of interview questions prepared beforehand
Access to online resources.