Psychology Essay: Research Methods, Experiment Design, and Ethics

This essay delves into the realm of psychological research, exploring various methods used to describe behavior, including descriptive and correlational research, case studies, and experiments. It identifies the basic ideas behind early approaches in psychology that correlate with these methods. The essay further considers a research question involving the ethical implications of using human or animal subjects in painful experiments, particularly electric shocks. A case study approach is proposed for conducting research, emphasizing the importance of ethical guidelines to ensure the humane treatment of both animals and humans. The study concludes by stressing the need for in-depth study and consideration of well-being when conducting psychological experiments. Desklib provides a platform for students to access similar solved assignments and study resources.

Psychology

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Research methods used to describe psychological behavior...........................................................3
Basic ideas behind early approaches in psychology that correlate to these methods......................4
Identify the research question..........................................................................................................4
Research experiment........................................................................................................................4
Ethical guidelines.............................................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................5

Introduction
Psychology is the study of behavior, performance and mental conditions of people. It is an
important subject, as it is considered as the study of psychological procedures as well as behavior
all together (Padmashali, 2017). It is applied in our daily lives such as how we behave, what we
think, what we do and the way we do, are all associated with psychology. This science is highly
complicated because unlike study of diseases, the study of human mind is more complicated
(Cherry, 2018).
Research methods used to describe psychological behavior
Psychologists utilize various methods for the purpose of conducting research. Descriptive or
Correlational research methods include surveys, case studies, and realistic observation and lab
observations. With the use of these methods, the researchers can become able to define diverse
experiences or actions and the relations between them (McLeod, 2017).Although, these methods
do not allow the researchers to regulate the sources of behavior. Another method is Correlation
coefficient through which, the extent of relationship between two variables is measured in the
form of positive or negative correlation (Cherry, 2018). Through Case study method, a
researcher studies an individual in detail and gather information about the individual through
direct observations, interviews, psychological testing, document examination and proceedings
(McLeod, 2017). Various other research methods used in psychology are lab experiment, field
experiment, interviews, questionnaire, pilot study and many more.

Basic ideas behind early approaches in psychology that correlate to these
methods
Psychological analysis possesses explanatory power and understanding of behavior however, it
includes mere explanation of behavior after the event instead of predicting the occurrence of
event in advance. It has been claimed upon by Kline (1984) that psychoanalytic theory could be
broken down into hypotheses which is tested systematically and also pointed out that, theory
would have been disproven by no significant correlation(McLeod, 2017). In this way, earlier
approaches of psychology correlates with the methods being used by the psychologists.
Identify the research question
Researchers give painful electric shocks to humans and animals for the purpose of conducting
experiment. The research question is that whether human or animal subjects should be harmed
while doing research.
Research experiment
In order to conduct the experiment, a case study will be taken into consideration. The reason
behind considering the case study is that it will include in-depth investigations of individual,
group or community (SparkNotes , 2019). It will provide qualitative data and possess high levels
of environmental validity. Studying the subjects’ undergone electric shock will provide the
required information.

Ethical guidelines
Being a psychological researcher, it is the obligation that research on animals might involve
procedures such as deprivation, pain or surgery (SparkNotes , 2019). It is the ethical obligation
while conducting research to treat the animals humanely. Both animals and humans well-being
should be kept into consideration while conducting experiments on them. So, the research will
include the in-depth study of the humans and animals, who had been previously subjected to
electric shocks for the purpose of experiment (SparkNotes , 2019).
References
Cherry, K. (2018). 10 Ways Psychology Can Help You Live a Better Life. Retrieved from
Verywellmind.com: https://www.verywellmind.com/ways-psychology-can-help-live-a-
better-life-2795615
McLeod, S. (2017). Research Methods. Retrieved from Simplypsychology.org:
https://www.simplypsychology.org/research-methods.html
Padmashali, S. (2017). What is the importance of psychology in everyday life? Retrieved from
Quora.com: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-importance-of-psychology-in-everyday-
life
SparkNotes . (2019). Ethical Considerations. Retrieved from Sparknotes.com:
https://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/researchmethods/section4/