Types of Research

                Types of Research

Recently in class, we have been studying about the three main types of research conducted by psychologists. The three types of Research are, Descriptive Research, Correlational Research, and Experimental Research.

What is Descriptive Research?

Descriptive research is used to obtain information concerning the current status of the phenomena to describe "what exists" with respect to variables or conditions in a situation. The methods involved range from the survey which describes the status quo, the correlation study which investigates the relationship between variables, to developmental studies which seek to determine changes over time.

What is Correlation Research?

Correlation research is a form of analysis in which you correlate one variable with another to determine if there is a relationship between them. 

What is Experimental Research?

is a systematic and scientific approach to research in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables, and controls and measures any change in other variables.

The most common type of study in psychology measures correlation, and it is known as the survey method. It is a very cheap and fast method of surveying, plus you can use technology to spread the survey.

I would like to provide a case example for Descriptive Research for everyone to have a more clear understandig of the topic.

A researcher wants to know why individuals in Community A have a higher rate of a rare form of cancer when compared to those living in Community B.  To find out the reasons for the differences in cancer rates in these two communities, the investigator surveyed residents about their lifestyle, noted the types of businesses that were present in the community and searched medical records. The researcher found that the headquarters for the Toxico Chemical Plant is located in Community A, there is a higher rate of cigarette smoking in this community and residents tended to delay or skip going to the doctor for an annual checkup. In Community B, the largest employer was a department store and on average, residents did not smoke as much as residents from Community A. However, like individuals from Community A, Community B residents tended to delay or skip their annual checkup with their doctor.

This is a very simple example of Descriptive Research.

I hope everyone has enjoyed today's topic on the different types of research used in psychology, tune in next time!

http://explorable.com/experimental-research

http://ori.hhs.gov/education/products/sdsu/eg_desc.htm