Causal Research Methods for Psychology Studies

Psychology studies can be conducted via several distinctive methods depending on the subject type, manor of data collection, and the nature of the intended applicable measurements. The levels of analysis are almost limitless, but actual means of research can be allocated to three chief categories: relational research, descriptive research, and causall research. 

Relational research is based on finding significant meaning between two subjects. This is not cause and effect of one variable on another, but studies how two variables may correlate to one another. The meaning of correlation in this sense is that there is either a significant increase or decrease in one factor as another factor increases or decreases.

Causal Research is perhaps the most dynamically conclusive. Its purpose is to determine what effects one variable may have on another. This is typically demonstrated through experimental research where the variable thought to inflict change, the independent variable, is held at a constant to record the effects it may have on the second variable, the dependent variable.

Descriptive Research answers questions like who, what, where, when, why, and how. It is a data collection method that involves simply describing a current situation, for example, a population count, descriptive characteristics of a society, or observed behaviors among different social groups. 

This significance represents a relationship between the two subjects that will often be used in a predictive nature. An example of this is microeconomics' theory of supply and demand, and it discusses how one factor moves in accordance with the other. This corresponds to the relationship that the two subjects may have with one another.

Regardless of the method of research being applied, all research stems from one common point: curiosity. This is where the research process begins, with a topic in which the researcher is interested to know more about. After validating the specific topic, the researcher may form their own hypothesis, or prediction, based on what knowledge they currently have on the subject.

The next step is to define the parameters of how they intend to proceed with the research, in order to reach the next objective of data collection. Once research is in action and data is gathered, the analysis of the collected information may begin.

Through the analysis phase, a conclusion may be drawn, however, it is customary to test and perhaps modify or validate the primary hypothesis. Research may be a vast, open field, but as long as the formula and fundamentals remain intact, success is usually obtainable.

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