What are the methods of psychological research?

The methods of psychological research include observation, experiment, test, investigation and case study.

1, observation method.

Observation method refers to a method in which researchers use their own senses and auxiliary tools to directly observe the research object according to a certain research purpose, research outline or observation table, so as to obtain information. Scientific observation is purposeful, planned, systematic and repeatable. Common observation methods are: checklist method; Grade scale method; Narrative description.

Observation generally uses sensory organs such as eyes and ears to perceive the observed object. Due to the limitation of human sensory organs, observers often have to resort to various modern instruments and means, such as cameras, tape recorders, video recorders and so on. Assist in observation.

Definition of observation method:

Definition 1: It is a process in which researchers collect all kinds of information about people's behaviors in social life purposefully and in a planned way through the senses or with the help of certain scientific instruments under natural conditions.

Definition 2: systematically observe and record people's behavior in a targeted and planned way in natural scenes, and then analyze the records made to find out the methods of psychological activities and development laws.

Definition 3: Under natural conditions, experimenters observe the subjects' expressions, movements, language and behaviors purposefully and in a planned way through their own senses or auxiliary means such as audio and video recording, so as to study the laws of people's psychological activities.

Definition 4: the method of directly observing, recording and then analyzing the behavior of people or animals in natural situations or preset situations, so as to obtain the changing and developing laws of their psychological activities.

2. Experimental methods.

Experimental methods are research methods to clarify the relationship between independent variables and dependent variables, control certain conditions and create relevant scenarios, which can be divided into laboratory experimental methods and natural experimental methods. The advantages are that the test can be repeated, the indexes in the experiment are quantified accurately and the conclusion is scientific and reliable. The disadvantage is that the subjective initiative of the subjects may affect the objectivity of the experiment.

Commonly used experimental methods mainly include the following:

Contrast experiment before and after:

This is the simplest form of experimental research. This method is used in the same market. Before the experimental period, the paper was measured under normal conditions and the necessary data were collected. Then the field experiment is carried out, and after a certain experimental time, the data during (or after) the experiment is measured and collected. So as to compare before and after, and understand the effect of experimental variables through comparative observation.

Comparative experiment between control group and experimental group:

The control group refers to non-experimental units (enterprises, markets), compared with the experimental group, also known as the control group; The experimental group refers to the experimental units (enterprises and markets).

The comparative experiment between the membrane control platform system group and the experimental group is an experimental investigation method to obtain market information by comparing the experimental results of the experimental group and the non-experimental group. The advantage of this experimental investigation method is that the experimental group and the control group conduct on-site sales comparison at the same time, and there is no need to divide them into pre-event and post-event in chronological order, so that the influence of external variables that may occur due to different experimental time can be ruled out.

Comparative experiment of control group before and after exercise;

The contrast experiment before and after the control group refers to an experimental investigation method that compares the results of the control group with those of the experimental group. This method is not only different from the simple before-and-after comparison experiment in the same market, but also different from the simple after-comparison experiment conducted by the control group and the experimental group at the same time.

This experimental method is to select the control group and the experimental group between different enterprises and units in the same time period, measure the experimental results before and after, and then compare them before and after. This method has many variables, which is beneficial to eliminate the influence of external factors in the experimental process, thus greatly improving the accuracy of experimental variables.

3. Test method.

Test method is a research method which takes reliability and validity as indicators and uses scientific test scales or instruments to test the psychological quality of subjects. The advantage is that the experiment is fast, scientific and fair, but the disadvantage is that the results may be abused and misinterpreted.

4. Investigation methods.

Investigation is a research method to indirectly understand the psychological activities of the respondents through questionnaires and interview outlines. The advantage is that a large number of survey data can be obtained in a short time, and the data can be processed and quantitatively analyzed. The disadvantage is that the subjects' answers may not be objective.

Investigation method refers to the method of understanding the psychological activities of the respondents by answering questions in writing or orally. The advantage of the survey is that many objects can be investigated at the same time in a short time, and a large amount of data can be obtained and quantified, which is economical and time-saving. Its main disadvantage is that candidates may give wrong or wrong answers for various reasons.

5. Case law.

Case law is a method to investigate individuals or groups in a certain period of time. The advantage is that the investigation is thorough and specific, but the disadvantage is that it takes a long time.

The object of case study is individual, but it is not completely isolated, but related to other individuals, which is the individual in the whole. Therefore, the study of these individual objects will inevitably reflect some characteristics and laws of other individuals and the whole to a certain extent. The purpose of case study is to understand and grasp the individual's specific situation, but it also needs to reveal the general law through case study.