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Quantitative Research Methods

Mike Stadler

This course introduces the elements involved in the design of psychological research. To produce reliable, valid results that can be used to understand psychological processes, researchers must take great care in how they define and measure variables, how they sample groups of individuals from the populations of people or animals that they are interested in, how they control extraneous variables in the research setting, and myriad other factors. Psychologists can choose from an array of research designs, including observational, correlational, experimental, or quasi-experimental methods. And depending on the design, they must consider the many factors that affect the reliability of those observations and the validity of any conclusions that might be drawn from them. This course considers all these and many other aspects of psychological research. A large segment of this course is then devoted to issues related to how psychologists ensure that the research methods they employ are ethical. Everyone would agree that ethical considerations are one of the most important things researchers must think about when they plan their studies, but it’s also one of the most invisible in reports on psychological research. Any article that reports the results of a psychological study provides voluminous details about the methodology, about issues like sampling and validity, for instance, but little if any mention of the relevant ethical issues, even though there are ethical issues in play at every step of the process. Behind all the fascinating research in the psychological literature are rules, regulations, and expectations about how the people or animals we study will be treated, and about how the data we collect will be analyzed and reported. And behind all those standards are more general principles that have been established from grim experience that includes some of the worst things humans have ever done in the name of science, and other missteps that hindsight tells us we don’t want to repeat. In this course, we investigate that history and abstract from it those principles that now guide ethical decisions about how to do research. To what goals do those principles aspire? And what breaches are they meant to keep us from repeating?

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Describe the steps of the scientific method.
Explain how to judge the quality of a source for a literature review.
Compare and contrast the kinds of research questions scientists ask.
Specify how variables are defined.
Explain what it means for an observation to be reliable.
Compare and contrast the major research designs.
Compare and contrast forms of validity as they apply to the major research designs.
Illustrate the history of ethical concerns about scientific research using specific examples.
Describe purposes served by codes of research ethics.
Explain the five general ethical principles of the apa ethics code.

Describe the issues addressed by the apa ethical standards that apply to researchers.
Explain how irbs and iacucs operate.
Outline the major ethical considerations in planning a research study using nonhuman animals.
Explain the importance of the three rs in animal research.
Explain the protections ethics codes offer for human participants in research.
Describe the implications of weird participants being overrepresented in psychological research.
Identify the consequences of the different types of fraud in research.
Explain how replication and preregistration address the problems of p-hacking and harking.
Apply your knowledge of ethical violations and propose solutions for real-life research.

Describe the steps of the scientific method.
Explain how to judge the quality of a source for a literature review.
Compare and contrast the kinds of research questions scientists ask.
Specify how variables are defined.
Explain what it means for an observation to be reliable.
Compare and contrast the major research designs.
Compare and contrast forms of validity as they apply to the major research designs.
Illustrate the history of ethical concerns about scientific research using specific examples.
Describe purposes served by codes of research ethics.
Explain the five general ethical principles of the apa ethics code.
Describe the issues addressed by the apa ethical standards that apply to researchers.
Explain how irbs and iacucs operate.
Outline the major ethical considerations in planning a research study using nonhuman animals.
Explain the importance of the three rs in animal research.
Explain the protections ethics codes offer for human participants in research.
Describe the implications of weird participants being overrepresented in psychological research.
Identify the consequences of the different types of fraud in research.
Explain how replication and preregistration address the problems of p-hacking and harking.
Apply your knowledge of ethical violations and propose solutions for real-life research.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for learners with a background in psychology or research methods

Taught by instructors with extensive experience in psychological research

Provides a comprehensive overview of the ethical considerations in psychological research

Examines the foundations of the scientific method and its application to research

Includes hands-on activities and assignments to reinforce learning

May be challenging for learners with no prior knowledge in the field

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Career center

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

Research Scientist

Quantitative Research Methods provides Research Scientists with a strong foundation in the principles and practices of scientific research. The course covers topics such as the scientific method, research design, data collection, and analysis, which are essential for conducting scientific research studies. By taking this course, Research Scientists can enhance their methodological skills and contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge.

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Survey Researcher

Quantitative Research Methods is highly relevant for Survey Researchers, as it provides training in the design and conduct of survey research studies. The course covers topics such as research design, sampling techniques, questionnaire design, and data analysis, which are essential for conducting valid and reliable survey research. By taking this course, Survey Researchers can enhance their methodological skills and contribute to the advancement of survey research.

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Epidemiologist

Quantitative Research Methods is highly relevant for Epidemiologists, as it provides training in the design and conduct of epidemiological studies. The course covers topics such as research design, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and statistical analysis, which are essential for conducting valid and reliable epidemiological research. By taking this course, Epidemiologists can enhance their methodological skills and contribute to the advancement of public health.

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Policy Analyst

Quantitative Research Methods is highly relevant for Policy Analysts, as it provides training in the design and conduct of policy-oriented research. The course covers topics such as research design, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and statistical analysis, which are essential for conducting valid and reliable policy research. By taking this course, Policy Analysts can enhance their methodological skills and contribute to the development of evidence-based policies.

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Public Health Researcher

Quantitative Research Methods is highly relevant for Public Health Researchers, as it provides training in the design and conduct of public health research studies. The course covers topics such as research design, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and statistical analysis, which are essential for conducting valid and reliable public health research. By taking this course, Public Health Researchers can enhance their methodological skills and contribute to the advancement of public health.

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Statistician

Quantitative Research Methods provides Statisticians with a strong foundation in the principles and practices of statistical analysis. The course covers topics such as statistical methods, data analysis, and interpretation, which are essential for conducting statistical research. By taking this course, Statisticians can enhance their methodological skills and contribute to the advancement of statistical knowledge.

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Operations Research Analyst

Quantitative Research Methods provides Operations Research Analysts with a solid foundation in the principles and practices of quantitative research. The course covers topics such as research design, data collection, sampling techniques, and statistical analysis, which are essential for conducting operations research studies. By taking this course, Operations Research Analysts can improve their ability to analyze data, develop models, and make informed recommendations for improving operational efficiency.

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Data Analyst

Quantitative Research Methods provides Data Analysts with a foundation in the principles and practices of scientific research. The course covers topics such as the scientific method, research design, data collection, and analysis, which are essential for conducting data-driven decision-making. By taking this course, Data Analysts can improve their ability to analyze data, draw meaningful conclusions, and communicate their findings effectively.

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Market Researcher

Quantitative Research Methods provides Market Researchers with a strong foundation in the principles and practices of quantitative research. The course covers topics such as research design, data collection, sampling techniques, and statistical analysis, which are essential for conducting market research studies. By taking this course, Market Researchers can improve their ability to design and conduct research studies, analyze data, and make informed recommendations.

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User Experience Researcher

Quantitative Research Methods provides User Experience Researchers with a strong foundation in the principles and practices of quantitative research. The course covers topics such as research design, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and statistical analysis, which are essential for conducting user experience research studies. By taking this course, User Experience Researchers can improve their ability to design and conduct research studies, analyze data, and make informed recommendations for improving user experience.

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Program Evaluator

Quantitative Research Methods provides Program Evaluators with a strong foundation in the principles and practices of quantitative research. The course covers topics such as research design, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and statistical analysis, which are essential for conducting program evaluations. By taking this course, Program Evaluators can improve their ability to design and conduct evaluations, analyze data, and make informed recommendations for program improvement.

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Social Research Analyst

Quantitative Research Methods provides Social Research Analysts with a strong foundation in the principles and practices of quantitative research. The course covers topics such as research design, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and statistical analysis, which are essential for conducting social research studies. By taking this course, Social Research Analysts can improve their ability to design and conduct research studies, analyze data, and make informed recommendations for social policy.

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Web Analyst

Quantitative Research Methods provides Web Analysts with a strong foundation in the principles and practices of quantitative research. The course covers topics such as research design, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and statistical analysis, which are essential for conducting web analytics studies. By taking this course, Web Analysts can improve their ability to design and conduct research studies, analyze data, and make informed recommendations for improving website performance.

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Behavior Analyst

Quantitative Research Methods can help Behavior Analysts understand how to design research studies to investigate the principles of behavior. The course covers various research designs, sampling techniques, and methods for ensuring the reliability and validity of observations, which are essential for conducting rigorous behavior analytic research. By taking this course, Behavior Analysts can enhance their methodological skills and contribute to the advancement of behavior analysis.

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Data Science Manager

Quantitative Research Methods can be useful for Data Science Managers by providing a foundation in the principles and practices of quantitative research. The course covers topics such as research design, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and statistical analysis, which can be helpful for understanding the principles behind data science methodologies. By taking this course, Data Science Managers may gain a better understanding of the strengths and limitations of various data science techniques and how to evaluate the quality of data science research.

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Reading list

We've selected 12 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 Quantitative Research Methods.

APA Manual 7th Edition Simplified for Easy Citation