Methodology of Psychological Research

1. Behavioural science and problems in studying behaviour, psychology as empirical science; scientific method
2. Steps in the research process
a) Identifying and developing ideas: finding background information in the literature and bibliography databases (COBISS, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar …); defining the research problem; scientific hypothesis
b) Defining research strategy: research methods in psychology; empirical vs. theoretical review study; cross-sectional vs. longitudional reserach,
c) Developing research design (experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational design and other non-experimental designs; case study, clinical method; defining participants and instruments, planning the study; modes of information collecting: observation, interview, survey, tests, questionnaires, scales, inventories, projection techniques)
č) Conducting research; conceptual issues in psychological measurement
d) Data analysis and data review
e) Reporting about the study (APA standards, report writing, other ways of communicating the findings; elements of scientific report; writing style; citation and reference list; preparing a manuscript)
3. Ethics in psychological research