The way researchers choose to study psychology can really change how we understand their findings. This choice affects how accurate and widely applicable the results are. There are two main types of research methods: qualitative and quantitative.

Qualitative Research

• What It Is: This method digs deep into understanding complex issues.
• How It Works: It uses interviews, focus groups, and case studies to gather information.
• Benefits: It provides rich and detailed information. For example, qualitative research can give us great insights into why people act a certain way. This can help come up with new ideas to study further.

Quantitative Research

• What It Is: This method tests ideas and measures things using numbers and stats.
• How It Works: It involves surveys, experiments, and observations to collect data.
• Benefits: It helps us draw conclusions that apply to larger groups of people. For instance, big surveys can gather data from thousands of people, showing trends and patterns. Studies using random sampling in quantitative research can also give us a 95% confidence level, meaning we can feel pretty sure about the results.

How Methods Affect Findings

• Validity: Quantitative research usually has better control over different factors, making it more valid. On the other hand, qualitative research often reflects real-life situations more accurately.
• Generalizability: Findings from quantitative research can often be applied to a wider audience. For example, in meta-analyses, researchers summarize data from many studies and typically find a medium effect size around 0.5.
• Interpretation: The types of methods used can change the conclusions we make. This impacts both the theories we develop and the practical ways we use this knowledge in psychology.