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Non-experimental methods in psychology

Study level: Undergraduate study programme in psychology
Lecturers: Dean Ajduković, Ph.D., Ajana Löw, Ph.D.
ECTS: 6
Language: Croatian
Semester: 6th (summer)
Status: mandatory
Form of instruction with class hours: 45 hours of lectures, 15 hours of seminars
Prerequisites: none
Student evaluation: written exam

Course description

Research process paradigm. Multiple operationalizations. Research approaches. Risks for internal validity in non-experimental approach. Procedures for reducing risks. Risks for external validity. Designs that do not allow and do allow causal conclusions. Quasi-experimental designs. Time series. Simulation studies and analogous experiments. Correlational approach and causality. Risk for validity in correlational designs. Causal-comparative design. Risks for validity in causal-comparative studies. Survey. Data gathering in survey research. No response and missing data issues. Control of survey data gathering. Probabilistic sampling. Qualitative research approach. Characteristics of qualitative research and comparison to quantitative approach. Steps in qualitative research. Types of qualitative studies. Systematic observation. Involvement of observer in systematic observation. Interview. Types of interview. Asking questions and interview guide. Interviewer behavior. Focus groups. Secondary documentation. Contents analysis. Case study. Ethnographic research. Structure of ethnographic report. Sampling in qualitative research. Non-probabilistic and probabilistic samples. Planning and implementation of research in natural setting.

Course objectives

The students will get to know the research methods in psychology, which are not experimental. They will be able to analyze and compare different research designs. They will be able to recognize risk for internal and external validity in research and to administer appropriate procedures to manage these risks. The students will understand the techniques of gathering and analyzing qualitative data. They will develop the critical relationship to selecting appropriate qualitative technique in doing research.

Required readings

Milas, G. (2005). Istraživačke metode u psihologiji i drugim društvenim znanostima. Jastrebarsko: Naklada Slap. Chapters:  6.5.2.1. (Prijetnje unutarnjoj valjanosti, 131-140), 6.5.4. (Vanjska valjanost, 147-151), 8 (Kvazieksperimenti, 217-245; 254-263) 11 (Razlozi korištenja neeksperimentalnih metoda, 335-340), 12 (Opažanje, 341-368), 14 (Anketno istraživanje, 395-475), 15 (Nenametljivo istraživanje ponašanja, 477-520), 17 (Pristupi i tehnike kvalitativnih istraživanja, 571-613)

Ajduković, D. (1989) Empirijska podloga modela sportske štampe. U: Savić, D. (ur) Modeli fizičke kulture, Svezak V. Zagreb: RSIZ fizičke kulture, 43-90.

Ajduković, D. (2008) Odgovornost istraživača i valjanost kvalitativne metodologije. In: N. Koller-Trbović i A. Žižak (ur.) Kvalitativni pristup u društvenim znanostima. Zagreb: Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet, 39-53.

Silverman, D. (2005) Doing qualitative research. London: Sage. Chapters: 8 (Choosing a methodology, 109-122), 9 (Selecting a case, 125-136), 11 (beginning dana analysis, 149-169), 14 (Quality in qualitative research, 209-224) 

Recommended readings

Ajduković, D. (1982) Omladinska štampa u Hrvatskoj - analiza sadržaja "Poleta". Pitanja, 7/9, 1-32.

Cook, T.D. i Campbell (1979) Quasi-experimentation. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Goodwin, C.J. (2005.) Research in psychology. New York: Wiley.