Quantitative Research Methods
Master psychological research principles for reliable, valid results, including measurement methods, sampling strategies, and research ethics in practice.
Master psychological research principles for reliable, valid results, including measurement methods, sampling strategies, and research ethics in practice.
This comprehensive course introduces the fundamental elements of psychological research design. Students will learn how to produce reliable and valid results through careful consideration of variable definition and measurement, sampling techniques, and control of extraneous variables. The course covers various research methodologies including observational, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental designs, examining the factors that affect observation reliability and conclusion validity within each approach. A significant portion of the curriculum focuses on research ethics—an essential yet often overlooked aspect of scientific investigation. Through historical case studies, students will understand the principles guiding ethical research decisions, exploring the regulations and expectations regarding treatment of research subjects and data analysis integrity. The course examines the evolution of ethical standards from historical research misconduct, establishing principles to prevent future breaches. Students will learn about Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs), and the American Psychological Association's Ethical Standards. The curriculum also addresses contemporary challenges in psychological research, including participant diversity issues, research fraud, and solutions like replication studies and preregistration to combat p-hacking and HARKing (Hypothesizing After Results are Known).
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What you'll learn
Describe the steps of the scientific method and their application in psychological research Evaluate the quality of sources for literature reviews and research questions Define variables properly and ensure reliable measurement in research Compare different research designs including observational, correlational, and experimental methods Analyze various forms of validity in research design and methodology Understand the historical development of research ethics through case studies Apply the five general Ethical Principles of the APA Ethics Code to research scenarios Navigate the ethical requirements of Institutional Review Boards and Animal Care committees Identify and prevent various types of research fraud and questionable practices Implement solutions like preregistration and replication to improve research integrity
Skills you'll gain
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Module Description
This course provides a thorough introduction to quantitative research methods in psychology, focusing on research design elements that ensure reliable and valid results. The curriculum is structured around two major components: research methodology and research ethics. In the methodology section, students learn about the scientific method, literature review evaluation, variable definition and measurement, observation reliability, and the various research designs available to psychologists. The course compares observational, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental methods, examining the strengths and limitations of each approach. The ethics component explores the historical development of research ethics through case studies of problematic research, explaining how these led to the establishment of current ethical standards. Students learn about the APA Ethics Code's five general principles and specific research standards, the role of oversight committees, and ethical considerations for both animal and human research. Contemporary challenges in psychological research are also addressed, including participant diversity issues (particularly the overrepresentation of WEIRD—Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic—populations), research fraud, and methodological improvements like preregistration and replication studies.
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Instructor
Senior Content Manager
Mike Stadler is a Senior Content Manager at the American Psychological Association (APA). Before coming to APA, he earned a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Purdue University in 1989, after which he was on the psychology faculty at Louisiana State University and the University of Missouri.
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