Research Methods in Psychology

1.1 Discussion. The Quest and the Questioning

Getting Started

As Christians, we are told to have faith. We are told to trust in God. We learn that God watches over us and will protect us. 

But is trusting God and having faith in him the same thing as not asking questions? When is it all right to question God? When is it meaningful to go to him with prayers of petition and even confusion? We are on a quest to understand more of who we are, what we want our lives to become, and how to strengthen our relationship with God. Questioning can often bring us further along in our quests... if we know the right questions to ask.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Discuss the differences between doubting and questioning God.

· Share a time when you were confused and God helped to clarify your path.

Resources

· Bible

· Video: The Quest and the Questioning

Background Information

Consider the following passages of scripture:

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8–9

For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

As we read about the infinite wisdom of our living God, it seems that it would be wrong to even pose a question! Yet there are so many things that are of concern to us: how to conduct ourselves in new situations; how to interpret passages of scripture; how to determine the right course of action during times of decision-making. These are quests that present us with a myriad of questions.

However, the quest does not include questions about the existence of God. That kind of knowledge (faith-based knowledge) must come first. The quest does not include questions about God’s goodness or his infinite wisdom and grace. These things also must be in place before the true quest can even begin.

Thus, there is a vast difference between doubting God’s existence and infinite wisdom and going to him in prayer with our questions. It is by our faith in him that we can bring our doubts and questions to him! As we enter his presence with humility and reverence, we can then begin to share our hearts with him. Our hearts often doubt. Our hearts are often confused. Our hearts often need guidance and direction.

Instructions

1. Listen to and watch the video,  The Quest and the Questioning.

2. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion questions:

a. Discuss the differences between doubting the existence of God and questioning.

b. Share a time when you were confused and God helped to direct your path.

3. Your initial post is due by the end of the fourth day of the workshop.

4. Read and respond to at least two of your classmates' postings, as well as instructor follow-up questions directed to you, by the end of the workshop.

5. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

1.3 Assignment. Introduction to Professional Literature in Psychology

Getting Started

There is a big difference between popular psychology and professional articles in psychology.  Magazines such as “Psychology Today” that present topics in psychology in an overly simplistic way may appeal to the masses, but they are not professional articles. Professional journal articles are published in peer-reviewed journals. This means that several peers in psychology (typically doctoral level reviewers) read the submission, critique the study, offer suggestions for improvement or reject the submission altogether. The submission must meet rigorous standards in order to finally be published in a professional journal.

Professional journal articles are based on solid research. There are several steps in the research process that must be followed in order for the research study to be considered professional.’ First a succinct and specific question must be created. This ‘hypothesis’ is based upon the current body of literature. For example, if the researcher is interested in mothers entering the workplace after a long absence, a good research question may be: What are the transferable skills mothers bring to the workplace? This specific question would then drive the rest of the research development process.

After honing your question, you would now be ready to search the professional literature. Searching the literature is not ‘research.’ Searching the literature is simply finding the journal articles that pertain to your chosen topic. Searching the literature begins with looking into databases that contain hundreds of professional journals.

For this assignment, you will be choosing your topic and writing your succinct question or hypothesis. This question is very important as it will provide a solid foundation from which to explore your topic. To help you write your research question, it will be necessary to choose an overall topic and search the literature for articles on that topic. After reading a few articles, you will begin to see patterns emerge in what is currently being studied. These patterns and research findings will help you to write your research question.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Determine your topic of interest in psychology.

· Find three professional journal articles on your topic of interest in the field of psychology.

· Write a research question based on the current studies found in professional journals.

Resources

· OCLS

· Website:  OCLS Introduction to Research Guide

· Website:  OCLS Article Databases

· IWU Resources Page

· Website:  OCLS Evaluating Resources Page

Background Information

You will be using Online Campus Library Services (OCLS) to find your scholarly, professional research articles. Here is one way to search for professional journal articles in psychology using OCLS:

1. Navigate to  OCLS .

2. Under  Find Your Database section, select More...

3. Select Psychology 

4. Select PsycINFO

5. You may need to log in, using your MyIWU login. 

6. Type in at least one search term. To reduce your results, you may want to use two terms to locate articles with both terms.

7. Make sure that they are ones that are full text and are scholarly or peer-reviewed (both options are on the left side).

8. Articles will populate; choose three that pertain to your topic or go back and use different terms for your search

As you continue to read the literature, you will start to gain an overall sense, or big picture, of your particular topic; this is one way you will know that you are integrating your knowledge and ideas about the topic. This assignment will get you started on identifying big-picture themes, which means you’ll need to read quite a few articles and begin to gain this overview perspective.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

2. Search the literature using the step-by-step instructions for using OCLS

3. Find three journal articles on a topic of your choice.

4. Create an APA cover page

5. Write a research question based upon the literature you found on your topic.

6. Write 1-2 paragraphs for each of the three articles you selected using APA format

7. Create a reference page listing your three references

1.2 Discussion. Research Ethics

Getting Started

In this course you will be completing a Formal Research Proposal. Institutions have very specific forms and processes for proposing and conducting research studies . You will not be asked to carry out a research experiment. You will, however, be required to write an abbreviate research proposal, like those that would be submitted to your Institutional Review Board (IRB). 

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) exists to protect participants from all harm, review the appropriateness of the study, and to offer support and suggestions for the study as needed. Thus, one of the most important components of understanding psychological research is knowing the history, important milestones, and status of research ethics. Psychologists need to have a heightened state of awareness and comprehension of the steps and practices that must be followed when utilizing people as research participants.

Even something as “harmless” as a questionnaire can invoke feelings in people that they’d rather not experience. Thus, the concept of harm needs to be explored in a very broad way by researchers. The American Psychological Association has developed codes and guidelines for researchers to help them take the appropriate steps to reduce the potential harm that an individual could experience during a research study, no matter the type.

You will be completing the Research Proposal one section at a time. The sections include:

1. Cover page and Abstract

2. Brief literature review

3. Methods

4. Participants

5. Summary

6. Reference Page

As we begin this special course on Research Methods in Psychology, there are a few things to keep in the forefront of your mind. First, when you are in the role of a researcher, you will be thinking more critically than ever before. Although even the best research designs and subsequent results can never ‘prove’ anything to be ‘true,’ research can support or refute hypotheses. Thus, it is the hypothesis or research question that forms the foundation for the research study and what drives the methodology.

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) exists to protect participants from all harm, review the appropriateness of the study, and to offer support and suggestions for the study as needed. Thus, one of the most important components of understanding psychological research is knowing the history, important milestones, and status of research ethics. Psychologists need to have a heightened state of awareness and comprehension of the steps and practices that must be followed when utilizing people as research participants. Even something as “harmless” as a questionnaire can invoke feelings in people that they’d rather not experience. Thus, the concept of harm needs to be explored in a very broad way by researchers. The American Psychological Association has developed codes and guidelines for researchers to help them take the appropriate steps to reduce the potential harm that an individual could experience during a research study, no matter the type.

Moreover, it is important to support what is being said by the research with appropriate citations. The first person (“I” statements such as “I believe,” “I think,” or “In my opinion,”) are not used in scholarly writing. Rather, a more passive tense is used in order to underscore the importance of the research and findings.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Critique and evaluate psychological research ethics.

Resources

· Textbook:  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology

· Web Article: The Belmont Report

· Website: APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

· Webpage: The IRB: Human Subject Research

· HTML: How to Write an Engaging Online Discussion Post

Background Information

For this important discussion, you will examine some historical documents about ethics in research. The Belmont Report was created by a committee who reviewed various research studies that resulted in considerable harm to the people involved and provided guidelines and suggestions to reduce the likelihood that those same kinds of harm would occur again. The American Psychological Association has used the Belmont Report, among other resources, to develop their ethical codes and guidelines, which you will also review.

Some research studies, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study (African American men were exposed to syphilis so that medical professionals could observe the results), very clearly show how research can cause serious harm and why this type of harm should never be repeated. Other types of research, such as questionnaires and interviews, may seem, on their face, to be harmless. While you may have never felt any emotions you would prefer not to experience when completing a questionnaire, that doesn’t mean that others have not had this experience or would prefer not to have it. Even seemingly innocuous interviews can enhance an individual’s mental or emotional status such that they feel a negative impact. Harm, thus, needs to be considered in a broader context and with shades of gray.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

2. Read  Chapter 1, “Evaluating Scientific Progress in Positive Psychology ,” in your textbook,  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology.

3. Review the following resources about ethics in psychology:

a. The Belmont Report

b. APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

c. The Institutional Review Board (IRB): Human Subject Research

4. Read  How to Write an Engaging Online Discussion Post  and apply the guidelines to your weekly discussion posts.

5. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion prompts:

a. What did you learn about ethics in psychological research both historically and for current times?

b. Which ethical components do you believe would be the most challenging to comply with and in what ways could you adhere to them?

c. Finally, thoroughly explore the concept of harm—in what ways could participants be harmed, even if “merely” filling out a questionnaire?

d. Use support for all of your claims.

6. Your initial post:

a. Should be between 400 to 500 words.