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Introduction to Psychological Research Methods

Blake McKimmie and Wen Wu

4.6

Based on 7 ratings

, see reviews

Blake McKimmie and Wen Wu

Do we really only use 10% of our brain? How can we answer questions like this? We shouldn't just rely on our intuition, because unfortunately that can sometimes give us the incorrect answer.

In this psychology course, learn how psychological research is conducted, how to analyze the findings and results and effectively write a research report.

An understanding of psychological research methods allows us to test questions systematically and report the findings of our research so that others can critically evaluate the validity of our conclusions.

Do we really only use 10% of our brain? How can we answer questions like this? We shouldn't just rely on our intuition, because unfortunately that can sometimes give us the incorrect answer.

In this psychology course, learn how psychological research is conducted, how to analyze the findings and results and effectively write a research report.

What you'll learn

The logic behind psychological research
Some common research designs and why we choose them
How to read and critically evaluate a research report
How to report the findings of research clearly

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What's inside

Learning objectives

The logic behind psychological research
Some common research designs and why we choose them

How to read and critically evaluate a research report
How to report the findings of research clearly

The logic behind psychological research
Some common research designs and why we choose them
How to read and critically evaluate a research report
How to report the findings of research clearly

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores the logic, designs, analysis, and reporting of psychological research

Develops critical thinking and research evaluation skills

Taught by Blake McKimmie and Wen Wu, experts in psychology

Suitable for students interested in understanding the methodology of psychological research

May be relevant for those pursuing careers in psychology, research, or related fields

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Reviews summary

Foundational introduction to psychological research

According to learners, this course offers a solid foundational introduction to psychological research methods, making it particularly suitable for beginners. Students frequently commend its clear, concise lectures and easy-to-follow explanations, especially for complex topics and through the use of real-world examples. The curriculum is highly effective in teaching the logic behind research designs, how to critically evaluate research reports, and provides helpful guidance on writing research reports. However, some learners with prior academic background found the content too basic, while a few noted outdated video production quality or a perceived lack of hands-on practical application, suggesting the course is more theoretical.

Most suitable for those with little to no prior background.

"Highly recommend for anyone new to the field."

"Good for beginners, but might be too superficial for those with some background."

"As someone completely new to research, this was perfectly paced."

"I found this course very beneficial, especially as someone without any prior research knowledge."

Equips learners with essential skills for evaluating and reporting research.

"The segment on writing research reports was incredibly helpful. This is exactly what I needed to prepare for further studies."

"I feel much more confident in understanding scientific papers now."

"I particularly enjoyed the focus on ethical considerations and reading research critically."

"It really clarified... how to critically evaluate studies and how to report the findings."

Provides a clear and well-structured introduction to research.

"This course was a fantastic introduction to psychological research methods. The lectures were clear, concise, and easy to follow."

"Excellent foundational course! It really clarified the 'why' behind different research designs..."

"As someone completely new to research, this was perfectly paced. The explanations of variables... were crystal clear."

"Overall a good course. It covers the basics well. The structure was logical, and the instructor was knowledgeable."

Reviewers noted some outdated videos and less interactive elements.

"The content is okay, but it felt a bit dry at times. Some of the videos were a bit outdated in production quality."

"The interactive elements felt lacking. It's mostly lectures and quizzes. I would have liked more case studies."

"Disappointed. The production quality was also poor on some older videos and made it less engaging."

Some found it too theoretical with insufficient hands-on application.

"I found this course to be very basic. While it's 'introductory', I expected a bit more depth..."

"The content was too theoretical and didn't provide enough practical application. I was hoping to learn how to do research, not just read about it."

"I'd suggest supplementing with more hands-on practice if you're aiming to conduct your own research."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Psychological Research Methods with these activities:

Read 'Thinking, Fast and Slow'

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Improve your understanding of cognitive psychology and the functioning of the brain.

View Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of the book.
Read the book.
Summarize the key points of each chapter.
Discuss the book with a friend or colleague.

Review the basics of statistics

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Refresh your knowledge of statistics to strengthen your foundation for this course.

Browse courses on Statistics

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Review your notes or textbook from a previous statistics course.
Take a practice quiz or exam to test your understanding.
Identify any areas where you need additional review.

Organize your course materials

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Improve your learning by organizing your course materials.

Browse courses on Study Skills

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Gather all of your course materials, including notes, handouts, and readings.
Create a system for organizing your materials.
Review your materials regularly.

Five other activities

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Watch videos on research design

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Supplement your understanding of research design by watching video tutorials.

Browse courses on Research Methods

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Find a series of video tutorials on research design.
Watch the videos and take notes.
Summarize the key points of the videos.

Do practice problems on hypothesis testing

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Strengthen your understanding of hypothesis testing by completing practice problems.

Browse courses on Hypothesis Testing

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Find a set of practice problems on hypothesis testing.
Work through the problems, showing all your steps.
Check your answers against the provided solutions.

Participate in a study group

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Enhance your learning by discussing course material with classmates.

Browse courses on Psychology

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Work together on assignments and projects.
Find a study group or form one with classmates.
Meet regularly to discuss the course material.

Help a classmate who is struggling

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Enhance your own learning by helping others with their course assignments.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Identify a classmate who is struggling.
Offer to help them with their work.
Work together on assignments and projects.

Write a research proposal

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Develop your research skills by writing a research proposal.

Browse courses on Research Methods

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Identify a research question that you are interested in.
Review the literature on your topic.
Develop a hypothesis.
Design a research study.
Write a research proposal.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Psychological Research Methods will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Market Researcher

Market Researchers collect, analyze, and interpret qualitative data to help businesses and organizations make decisions. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data using statistical and qualitative methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to help businesses and organizations make decisions. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data using statistical and qualitative methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Economist

Economists study how people make decisions in the face of scarcity. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data using statistical and qualitative methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economist

Public Policy Analyst

Public Policy Analysts develop and evaluate public policies. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data using statistical and qualitative methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Policy Analyst

Sociologist

Sociologists study human societies and social behavior. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data using statistical and qualitative methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sociologist

Anthropologist

Anthropologists study human cultures and societies. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data using statistical and qualitative methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Anthropologist

Political Scientist

Political Scientists study politics and government. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data using statistical and qualitative methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Scientist

Historian

Historians study the past. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct archival research, oral histories, and historical analysis. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data using qualitative methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Journalist

Journalists investigate and report on current events. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to conduct interviews, collect data, and analyze information. You will also learn how to write and report on your findings in a clear and concise manner.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Teacher

Teachers educate students at all levels. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct formative assessments and summative evaluations. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data to improve your teaching practice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Lawyer

Lawyers represent clients in legal matters. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to conduct legal research and analyze case law. You will also learn how to write and argue persuasively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer

Doctor

Doctors diagnose and treat patients. This course may be useful in preparing you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct clinical trials. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data to improve patient care.

See salaries and explore the career path for Doctor

Nurse

Nurses provide care to patients under the supervision of a doctor. This course may be useful in preparing you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct nursing research. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data to improve patient care.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nurse

Social Worker

Social Workers help people cope with personal and social problems. This course may be useful in preparing you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct social work research. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data to improve social work practice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Psychologist

Psychologists study the mind and behavior. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in research methods, including how to design and conduct psychological experiments and interviews. You will also learn how to analyze and interpret data to understand the mind and behavior.

See salaries and explore the career path for Psychologist

Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Psychological Research Methods.