MODULE: PROPSY11 – PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

INTRODUCTION TO FIELD METHODS

A. Analyze the differences between laboratory-based research and field research, and evaluate how
each setting influences the validity and applicability of findings.
B. Critically assess the role of hypotheses (null and alternative) in shaping the direction of
psychological research, and explain how they contribute to theory-building.
C. Synthesize knowledge of descriptive, correlational, and experimental methods to design a
research plan that addresses a real-world psychological issue.

📝 Guide Questions:
1. How does field research bridge the gap between
scientific theories and real-life human behavior?

2. In what ways can the choice of research method

(descriptive, correlational, experimental, or field)
affect the conclusions drawn by psychologists?

This chapter is an introduction to field research that gives a simple definition to research. It
explains the principles of scientific methods and critical thinking and outlines the steps that are
central to the conduct of scientific research in psychology. In this chapter, a brief explanation of
field methods and basic concepts are presented, along with an explanation of the need for field
research methods. The different research methods used in field research will be discussed in detail
in the succeeding chapters.

Definition of Research

Research is derived from the French word “recherche” which means “to go about seeking.” By
nature, human beings are very curious—they tend to ask, seek, and find answers to questions.
Therefore, humans are amateur researchers. The roots of man’s curiosity can be linked to human
intelligence and our lifelong capacity to learn. This curiosity helped make modern science possible.

As a science, psychology is engaged in the study of human behavior and mental processes. To
describe, predict, and explain human behavior, psychologists conduct scientific research and use
scientific methods and the principles of critical thinking. Psychology is a science that
systematically gathers facts and formulates theories based on empirical evidences.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines research as a “studious inquiry or examination” aimed

at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new
facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws. Fred N. Kerlinger defines

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 MODULE: PROPSY11 – PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

scientific research as a “systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation of natural

phenomena.” The 2017 National Ethical Guidelines for Health and Health-Related Research
defines research as “an activity that aims to develop or contribute to knowledge that can be
generalized (including theories, principles, relationships), or any accumulation of information
using scientific methods, observation, inference, and analysis.”

Scientific research is divided into two categories: basic and applied. Applied research aims to solve
a specific problem, whereas basic or pure research has no immediate application to solve a specific
problem.

The Scientific Method

While research can be conducted by anyone and in any discipline, most research is usually done
to discover and produce new knowledge. Nonetheless, the use of scientific method and critical
thinking represents how research should be conducted. Researchers employ scientific method to
develop comprehensive and systematic explanations of human behavior and mental processes.
Critical thinking is a way of evaluating the claims and comments of other people that involves
skepticism and examination of evidences.

The scientific method allows researchers to create a body of knowledge that involves steps for
ensuring that the information will be correct. Psychologist Spencer Rathus (2017) describes the
scientific process in research. The research process usually begins with formulating a research
question or statement of the problem. In this process of formulating a research question or problem,
the researcher tries to think about the cause-and-effect or the relationships among the factors
involved in causing human behavior.

Usually, a research question or problem is guided by a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a tentative

answer or explanation to the problem. There are two ways of stating the hypothesis: null and
alternative. The null hypothesis suggests that no statistical relationship and significance exists
among a set of variables. The alternative hypothesis is contrary to the null hypothesis. It is usually
the expectation based on theory. In the process of formulating a hypothesis, the researcher gathers
a set of interrelated ideas to account for the explanations. These ideas constitute a theory. A
scientific theory is a set of interconnected statements, such as hypotheses, assumptions, or
predictions that help explain and understand human behavior.

Testing Hypotheses and Drawing Conclusions

The next step of the scientific process is to test the hypothesis through methods, such as descriptive,
correlational, and experimental methods. Researchers describe behavior by using observations,
surveys, and case studies. They examine the relationship of variables through correlational studies.
They determine the cause and effect of variables through experiments. In quantitative research, the

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 MODULE: PROPSY11 – PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

selection of appropriate statistical techniques is a very important step in the analysis of data. In
qualitative research, thematic analysis of data is commonly used.

The next phase of the scientific process is drawing conclusions. Researchers draw conclusions
about their research questions or the accuracy of their hypotheses on the basis of their observations
or findings. In the final phase, researchers report the results of their research to allow other
researchers to replicate their observations or findings. This will determine if the same results will
be obtained in an effort to demonstrate the reliability of the results.

Basic Types of Research Methods

A variety of research methods have been used to study human behavior. Each method has its
strengths and weaknesses. The choice of method must fit the problem of the study. The following
types of research have all contributed to the discovery of new knowledge.

 Descriptive research: The goal is to describe a phenomenon and its characteristics. This
research is more concerned with what rather than how or why something has happened
(Nassaji, 2015). The principal aims in employing the descriptive research method are to
describe the present nature of a situation and to explore the causes of particular phenomena
(e.g., anxiety and depression).

 Correlational research: Studies the relation between variables. It is usually measured by

calculating a correlation coefficient which expresses the strength and direction of a relation
between two variables. The values range between -1.0 and 1.0. The most popular type is
Pearson’s correlation (Pearson’s R), commonly used in linear regression.

 Experimental research: A systematic way of manipulating the factors that the experimenter
believes cause a particular behavior. The factor being manipulated is called the independent
variable. The behavior being observed is called the dependent variable. In experimental
studies, one group receives the intervention (such as a new drug) while the control group
receives nothing or a placebo treatment. The researchers then study what happens to people
in each group.

The Meaning of Field Research: Uses and Importance

Field research or studies are non-experimental approaches used in the field or in real-life settings.
It is a research method that collects raw data outside the laboratory, school, or workplace. The
approaches and methods used in field research vary across disciplines (Myers & Hansen, 2012).

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 MODULE: PROPSY11 – PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

For example, psychology students and researchers who conduct field research may observe or
interview people in their natural environments to learn their culture, values, and behaviors.

Field research includes a wide range of methods, such as observation, surveys, interviews,
phenomenology, case study, secondary data analysis, archival research, content analysis, meta-
analysis, experiments, computer simulation modelling, and neuroimaging. In field research, a
method’s appropriateness depends on the phenomenon and on the research setting under
investigation.

Although field research is generally characterized as qualitative research, it may include

quantitative research methods. It can use mixed methods.

Importance Across Disciplines

Field research is important in both the social and natural sciences.

Social sciences: Psychology, sociology, anthropology, and history focus on people, culture, and
society.

 Example: In sociology and anthropology, a researcher may do ethnographic field study on

the culture, customs and traditions of different communities (e.g., indigenous people).
 Example: In psychology, a researcher may do a case study of the psychological impacts of
a disaster (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic) on mental health.

Natural sciences: Biology, botany, and zoology focus on physical characteristics of nature and
natural environments.

 Example: A zoologist may conduct field research to understand how specific animals relate
to one another and their ecosystems.

Field research allows researchers to explore behavior that probably would not be seen in the
laboratory (Myers & Hansen, 2012). It allows researchers to collect data about the places, people,
and species in the natural environment. Field research enables students and researchers to examine
the way scientific theories interact with real-life situations.

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 MODULE: PROPSY11 – PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

Key Ideas

 Scientific research is a systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation

of natural phenomena.
 The scientific method is a systematic way of organizing and expanding scientific
knowledge.
 The steps of the scientific method are: developing the research question,
formulating the hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, drawing conclusions, and
reporting the results.
 The basic types of research methods include descriptive, correlational, and
experimental methods.
 Field research or studies are nonexperimental approaches used in the field or in
real-life settings.

Wrap-Up Questions:
1. How does the scientific method ensure that psychological research remains systematic,
reliable, and free from bias?
2. In what ways do descriptive, correlational, and experimental methods complement each
other in building psychological knowledge?
3. Why is field research considered essential for connecting scientific theories to real-world
human behavior and natural environments?
4. How can the choice between basic and applied research influence the goals and
outcomes of a study?
5. What advantages does field research offer compared to laboratory research, especially
in studying culture, society, and ecosystems?

 Gary C. Dy, etc. (2024) Field Methods in Psychology, C&E Publishing, Inc

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