PPT

1. METHODS OF
PSYCHOLOGY:
EXPERIMENTAL,
OBSERVATIONAL, AND
CORRELATIONAL
RESEARCH
VAIDAIHI DIXIT (12100851)

2. WHAT IS A METHOD?
• IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY, THE TERM METHOD IS USED
TO DESCRIBE A SYSTEM OF PROCEDURES IN ORDER
TO LEAD TO THE DESIRED OUTCOME.
• EVERY SCIENCE EMPLOYS METHODS, WHICH ARE
PECULIAR TO ITS SUBJECT MATTER.
PSYCHOLOGISTS UTILIZE A WIDE VARIETY OF
METHODS IN ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
BEHAVIOUR.

3. EXPERIMENTAL
METHOD
IT IS A RESEARCH METHOD IN WHICH THE
INVESTIGATOR MANIPULATES A VARIABLE (AKNOWN
AS INDEPENDENT VARIABLE, WHEREBY
CONTROLLING THE OTHER VARIABLES, KNOWN AS
CONTROL VARIABLES, AND OBSERVING THE EFFECTS
OF INDEPENDENT VARIABLE, UPON THE SECOND
VARIABLE KNOWN AS THE DEPENDENT VARIABLE
EFFECT OF I.V. UPON D.V.
EG: TEACHING METHOD :INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
ACHIEVEMENT IN THE CLASS : DEPENDENT VARIABLE
VARIABLES ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OR
CONDITIONS THAT ARE MANIPULATED, CONTROLLED
OR OBSERVED BY THE EXPERIMENTER.
A VARIABLE IS ANYTHING THAT CAN VARY IN ITS
QUANTITY OR QUALITY.
EG: INTELLIGENCE, ANXIETY, APTITUDE, INCOME ETC.

6. OBSERVATIONAL METHOD
v The observational method
involves observation of behaviour
of other individuals as they go
about their usual activities.
v Observation method may be
described as direct observation of
a phenomenon under
investigation to the very place
where it occurs.
v Observation method is of two
types—controlled (experimental)
and uncontrolled (Naturalistic).

9. CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH IS A TYPE OF NON-EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH METHOD IN WHICH A RESEARCHER MEASURES TWO VARIABLES
AND UNDERSTANDS AND ASSESSES THE STATISTICAL RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THEM WITH NO INFLUENCE FROM ANY EXTRANEOUS VARIABLE.
TYPES OF CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
Mainly three types of correlational research have been identified:
1. POSITIVE CORRELATION: A positive relationship between two variables is when an
increase in one variable leads to a rise in the other variable. A decrease in one variable will
see a reduction in the other variable. For example, the amount of money a person has might
positively correlate with the number of cars the person owns.

10. 2. NEGATIVE CORRELATION: A negative correlation is quite literally the opposite
of a positive relationship. If there is an increase in one variable, the second variable will
show a decrease and vice versa.
For example, being educated might negatively correlate with the crime rate when an
increase in one variable leads to a decrease in another and vice versa. If a country’s
education level is improved, it can lower crime rates. this doesn’t mean that lack of
education leads to crimes. It only means that a lack of education and crime is believed to
have a common reason – poverty.
3. NO CORRELATION: There is no correlation between the two variables in this third
type. A change in one variable may not necessarily see a difference in the other variable.
For example, being a millionaire and happiness are not correlated. An increase in money
doesn’t lead to happiness.

12. THANK YOU