Counselor examination of psychological research principles and methods (2)

3, test method: a method of studying individual psychology or behavior through standardized tests, standardized tests are those instruments used to measure individual differences through a standardization process.

Advantages of the measurement method:

1) The standardized tests used are very rigorous and reliable.

2) The results are highly quantitative and easy to process.

3) There are norms for comparison.

4) Simple and labor-saving.

Shortcomings of the measurement method:

1) It is an indirect measurement, i.e., the psychological to be measured is inferred from the measurement of behavior. If the sample of behaviors is not well selected, the responses elicited by the items make it difficult to infer the psychology to be measured.

2) Inevitably influenced by experience and cultural conditioning.

3) Demanding of the person administering the test.

4) Test scores only indicate "results" and do not reflect the process.

4, the survey method: refers to a representative sample of a total at the same time to ask some of the same questions, often used to find out the basic situation of individuals and groups. In order to study those who can not be observed from the outside of the mental activities or psychological characteristics, can also use the survey method.

The survey method has five characteristics: 1) 3) 4) for the advantages, 2) 5) for the shortcomings. That is, "three advantages and two shortcomings"

1) There are many phenomena or behaviors that are difficult or impossible to be directly perceived by the researcher in a short period of time, the need to use the survey method.

2) The causal relationship between phenomena or behaviors cannot be determined.

3) Basically not limited by time and space conditions.

4) The wide range involved, fear of information speed.

5) The reliability of the findings depends on the cooperation of the respondents.

The survey method usually uses the following specific methods: conversation: also known as interview survey, the researcher according to the pre-drafted questions to the respondents, in a question-and-answer approach to the survey, in order to understand some of the psychological characteristics of the subjects. In order to make the conversation achieve better results, first of all, it is necessary to create a good atmosphere of relaxation, frankness and trust. Secondly, the investigator should be well prepared in advance, try to make the conversation standardized and consistent records.

Advantages of the conversation:

1) The purpose of the conversation can be directly explained to the respondent to improve the accuracy of the answer.

2) The researcher can also control the process of conversation, through additional questions, temporary questions to understand the level of respondents to answer

questions.

Disadvantages of conversation:

1) It is time-consuming and expensive.

2) Inappropriate words or actions of the researcher or a certain state of mind of the respondent can affect the truthfulness of the answers.

Questionnaire: an indirect method of studying human mental activity.

Advantages of questionnaires: not limited by time and place.

Disadvantages of questionnaires:

1) When the recovery rate is relatively low, it will affect the accuracy of the results.

2) May not always be able to answer the questions truthfully, affecting the credibility of the questionnaire.

3) Questionnaires are not a very rigorous method.

Activity product analysis: a method to study the psychological characteristics of subjects by analyzing activity products. It not only studies the activity products (such as diaries, essays, test papers, drawings, homemade teaching aids, handmade works, etc.), but also analyzes the process of product creation.

5, case study method: a wide range of in-depth study of an aspect of a single object of study method, also known as the case method.

Advantages of the case study method:

1) To facilitate a comprehensive, systematic and in-depth understanding of the research object.

2) It can be properly combined with other methods (such as experiments, questionnaires, etc.)

Disadvantages of the case study method:

1) The results obtained lack of representativeness.

2) Lack of comparable individuals or groups, which affects the scientificity to a certain extent.

3) Uncontrolled observations are made and the material provided is often sketchy and descriptive.

The above five research methods more commonly used in psychology, they have their own advantages and disadvantages, in the actual research should be used in a variety of methods, so that they complement each other and verify.