Lec 2-Methods of Psychology

Methods of Psychology (Studying Human Behavior)
BY: Hamza Shuja

Some of the important methods are
as follows:
 1. Observation Method
 2. Experimental Method
 3. Clinical Method/Case History Method
 4. Survey Method
 5. Interviewing Method.
1. Observation Method:
 Useful in the areas where experiments cannot

be conducted.
 Observer will observe and collect the data.
 Example: In the hospital the nurse will make
observation of patient’s temperature, pulse,

BP, facial expressions, etc.
Cont…
 Useful to study the children, mentally ill,
animals and unconscious patients.
 This method is also known as ‘naturalistic
observation’ as observer will go to the

natural settings, situations.
 In natural settings the person being observed
will not be aware that he is being observed.

Merits vs Demerits:
 This is a very good and useful method but
still the disadvantages exist. These are:
 Prejudices of observer may creep in.
 The observer may have to spend more time,
energy and money.

2. Experimental Method:
 Objective way of studying the behavior.

 Two variables involved, viz., Independent and
dependent variable.
 In experiments, usually the effect of
independent variable on the dependent

variable is studied.
Cont…
 There will be some other variables which are
not wanted by the experimenter, and their
interference may affect the results of the
experiment.
 Such variables are to be controlled.
 These unwanted variables are called
‘extraneous’ or ‘intervening’ variables.

Examples:
 The effect of music on the level of blood
pressure can be studied in laboratory
settings. Here, the music is independent
variable and the BP is dependent variable. All
other sounds other than music are
extraneous variables that are to be
controlled.
Merits vs Demerits:
 The advantage is that the results of the
experiment may be verified by repetition of
the same experiment. But this method has
some demerits also.
 They are:
a. expensive and time consuming;

b. cannot be conducted outside the laboratory.
3. Clinical Method/Case History Method:
 Commonly used in hospitals and also in

educational settings.
 For example; in hospitals, when a patient is
admitted, the nurse can collect the detailed

information pertaining to the disease of the
patient.
Cont…
 information includes the past history of the
disease, treatment taken already, present
condition, probable causes, signs and
symptoms, etc.
 This information may be obtained from the
patient, his close relatives like parents,

siblings or others who accompany him or
from his friends, neighbors, etc.
4. Survey Method:
 to gather the information from large number

of people.
 Questionnaires, checklists, rating scales,
inventories are used to collect the required

information.
 Usually used to gather information about
political opinion, customers’ preferences, etc.

Cont…
 May also be used to know the information
pertaining to medical profession—like
awareness about diseases and remedial
programes, opinions about health needs,
health facilities available, etc.
5. The Interview Method:
 Interviews are different from questionnaires

as they involve social interaction.
 Researchers can ask different types of
questions.
 For example, closed questions provide people
with a fixed set of responses, whereas open

questions allow people to express what they
think in their own words.
Cont…
 researchers use an interview schedule. This is
a set of prepared questions
 special care should be taken when
interviewing vulnerable groups, such as the

children. For example, children have a limited
attention span.
 Also the language the interviewer uses should
be appropriate to the vocabulary of the group

of people being studied.
Interviews take many forms, some very informal, others more
structured:
Structured Interview
 Also known as a formal interview.
 Based on structured, closed-ended questions.
 Questions are asked in a set / standardized
order and the interviewer will not deviate

from the interview schedule.
Strengths vs Limitations
Strengths:
 These interviews are easy to replicate & easy
to quantify.
 Many interviews can take place within a short
amount of time.
 Limitations
 These interviews are not flexible.
 Answers from structured interviews lack
detail.
Cont…
Unstructured Interview
 An interview schedule might not be used, and
even if one is used, they will contain open-

ended questions.
 Also referred to as ‘discovery interviews’ or
informal interviews.
Strengths vs Limitations
Strengths
 Interviewer has the opportunity to probe for a
deeper understanding, ask for clarification

 These interviews are more flexible as
questions can be adapted and changed.

Limitations
 Employing and training interviewers is
expensive
 Can be time consuming to conduct an
unstructured interview.

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Methods of Psychology (Studying Human Behavior)

BY: Hamza Shuja

 Useful in the areas where experiments cannot

observation of patient’s temperature, pulse,

observation’ as observer will go to the

will not be aware that he is being observed.

energy and money.

 Objective way of studying the behavior.

independent variable on the dependent

‘extraneous’ or ‘intervening’ variables.

a. expensive and time consuming;

 Commonly used in hospitals and also in

admitted, the nurse can collect the detailed

patient, his close relatives like parents,

 to gather the information from large number

inventories are used to collect the required

political opinion, customers’ preferences, etc.

 Interviews are different from questionnaires

with a fixed set of responses, whereas open

interviewing vulnerable groups, such as the

be appropriate to the vocabulary of the group

order and the interviewer will not deviate

even if one is used, they will contain open-

deeper understanding, ask for clarification

questions can be adapted and changed.

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