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Research Critique Psychological Methods

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This piece of work aims to analyse the research methods concerning its use in the field of psychological research. The work will begin by rationalizing the importance of research and will identify the relevant body regulating psychological research in the UK. It will endeavour to present, an give an overview of the main research methods employed by researchers. The advantages, similarities and limitations of two of the methods will be explained. Finally, the ethical issues and criticisms identified in particular psychological experiments will be discussed.
Psychologists use several methods of research, each of which provides information about human behaviour. These methods include: naturalistic observation, survey method, correlational method, the experimental method ( laboratory, field experiments) the correlational method and case studies. In general psychological research methods attempt to: Describe mental and physical behavior; explain the reasons for that behaviour, and predict the circumstances under which it might happen again (Mcleod 2012). None of the methods is able to study all aspects of human behaviour and thought. For example, In naturalistic observation methods participants are carefully observed in their natural setting without interference by the researchers. Researchers observe and record behaviour without trying to influence or control it while participants are not aware of observation. In survey methods a large group of people are questioned about their attitudes, beliefs, etc. by using interviews and/or questionnaires. The experimental method consists of allocating participants to groups and controls all conditions other than the one or more independent variables which are then manipulated to determine their effect on some behaviour measured, a variable is any condition/factor that can be manipulated, controlled or measured

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