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Definition and Meaning of Research in Psychology

🎯 Learning Objectives​

After studying this topic, you will be able to:

  • Define research and explain its meaning in a scientific context
  • Describe the criteria that distinguish good research from poor research
  • List and explain the qualities that characterise good psychological research
  • Identify the major objectives that research seeks to accomplish
  • Appreciate the importance of research as a systematic, empirical enterprise

📄 Source Reference​

Source PDF: 📄 Block-1/Unit-1.pdf — Pages 5–9
Course: MPC-005 Research Methods in Psychology

1. What Is Research?​

The word research is composed of two syllables — re (meaning again, anew, or over again) and search (meaning to examine closely and carefully, to test and try, or to probe). Together they describe a careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles (Grinnell, 1993).

At its simplest, research means searching for facts, answers to questions, and solutions to problems. But scientific research goes far beyond everyday curiosity — it is a disciplined, rule-governed enterprise that demands rigour, transparency, and verifiability.

Formal Definitions​

ScholarDefinition
Encyclopaedia of Social Science"The manipulation of generalising to extend, connect or verify knowledge"
Kerlinger (1973)"A systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed relationship about various phenomena"
Burns (1994)"A systematic investigation to find answers to a problem"
Grinnell (1993)A careful, systematic, patient study undertaken to establish facts or principles

The Most Comprehensive Definition​

Scientific research may be defined as:

The systematic and empirical analysis and recording of controlled observation, which may lead to the development of theories, concepts, generalisations and principles, resulting in prediction and control of those activities that may have some cause-effect relationship.

This definition captures several key elements:

  • Systematic — follows a defined process and rules
  • Empirical — grounded in real-world observation and experience
  • Controlled — designed to isolate variables and minimise confounds
  • Generalisable — seeks principles that extend beyond the immediate study

Research as a Structured Process​

Research is not a single act but a sequence of interconnected steps. These steps vary slightly depending on whether the study is quantitative (numerical, statistical) or qualitative (narrative, interpretive), but the underlying logic — observe, hypothesise, test, conclude — remains constant across all psychological inquiry.

2. Criteria of Good Research​

The criteria define what research must achieve to be considered scientifically sound. The IGNOU MPC-005 curriculum identifies six essential criteria:

1. Clearly Defined Purpose — Research objectives must be stated in precise, unambiguous terms. All key concepts must be given operational definitions — definitions in terms of how they are measured or produced.

2. Precisely Planned Procedure — The methodology must be described in sufficient detail that another researcher could replicate the study. Vague or ambiguous procedures undermine both replication and public scrutiny.

3. Carefully Planned Design — The research design must be structured to maintain objectivity and to justify the conclusions drawn. A flawed design can produce systematically misleading results.

4. Frank Research Report — Researchers must be honest about the scope and limitations of their findings. Overstating results or concealing contradictory data violates research ethics.

5. Adequate Data Analysis — The analytical methods used must be appropriate to the nature of the data and the research questions. Statistical significance does not automatically mean practical significance.

6. Valid and Reliable Data — Instruments used to collect data must demonstrate both validity (measuring what they claim to measure) and reliability (producing consistent results across administrations).

3. Objectives of Good Research​

Although every study has its own specific purpose, research objectives can be grouped into four broad categories:

TypeObjectiveExample
ExploratoryGain familiarity with a phenomenon; achieve new insightsStudying the lived experience of first-generation college students
DescriptivePortray accurately the characteristics of an individual, situation, or groupDescribing the personality profile of Indian managers
DiagnosticDetermine frequency of occurrence or association between variablesHow often does exam anxiety co-occur with poor academic performance?
Hypothesis-TestingTest a causal relationship between variables (experimental)Does sleep deprivation impair working memory capacity?

These four objectives are not mutually exclusive; many studies combine descriptive and hypothesis-testing aims. In psychology, the exploratory and hypothesis-testing forms are particularly common because human behaviour is both complex and context-dependent.

4. Qualities of Good Research​

Good research is distinguished not just by what it asks, but by how it answers. The following six qualities are essential:

4.1 Systematic​

Research follows a structured sequence of steps governed by a set of rules. Importantly, systematic research does not preclude creativity — it channels creative thinking into disciplined inquiry rather than guessing or intuition.

4.2 Empirical​

All conclusions must be grounded in evidence gathered from real-life observations and experiences. Empirical research provides a basis for external validity — the capacity to generalise results beyond the immediate setting.

4.3 Valid and Verifiable​

  • Valid: The researcher uses instruments that accurately measure the constructs they claim to measure; conclusions correctly reflect the data.
  • Verifiable: The methodology and results are transparent enough that other researchers can independently check, replicate, or refute them.

4.4 Logical​

Research is guided by the rules of reasoning — particularly inductive (specific observations → general principles) and deductive (general principles → specific predictions) logic. Logical consistency makes findings meaningful and actionable.

4.5 Theory-Developing​

Good research contributes to the building of psychological theory. From carefully observed samples, researchers make sound generalisations about populations. Over time, these generalisations coalesce into theories — structured bodies of knowledge that guide future inquiry.

4.6 Replicable​

Results must be reproducible under similar conditions by independent investigators. Replicability is not merely a procedural nicety — it is the bedrock of scientific credibility. The "replication crisis" in psychology (see § External Resources) has underscored why this quality matters so profoundly.

5. The Replication Crisis: A Contemporary Context​

The replication crisis refers to the widespread failure of researchers to reproduce the results of classic psychology studies when attempted independently. A landmark 2015 project (Reproducibility Project: Psychology, Science) attempted to replicate 100 psychology studies and found that fewer than half showed the same effect size and direction as the originals. This underscores that the qualities of research — especially systematic procedures, transparent reporting, and replicability — are not abstract ideals but practical necessities.

Indian Context: ICSSR-funded research in India has begun emphasising pre-registration of studies and open data practices to address replication concerns. The Indian Psychological Science Association (IPSA) now includes replication workshops in its annual conferences.

📚 External Resources​

Wikipedia​

Educational Videos​

Research Papers​

  • Open Science Collaboration (2015). "Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science." Science, 349(6251). DOI: 10.1126/science.aac4716 — the landmark replication study
  • Simmons, J. P., Nelson, L. D., & Simonsohn, U. (2011). "False-positive psychology: Undisclosed flexibility in data collection and analysis allows presenting anything as significant." Psychological Science, 22(11), 1359–1366 — explains how weak research practices inflate false-positive rates

Additional Reading​

🧠 Memory Aids​

Mnemonic: SEVLTR (Qualities of Good Research)​

Systematic · Empirical · Valid and Verifiable · Logical · Theory-Developing · Replicable

Remember: "Scientists Establish Very Logical Theories Repeatedly"

Mnemonic: EDDHFE (Criteria of Good Research)​

Explicitly defined purpose · Detailed procedure · Design maintains objectivity · Honest report · Fit-for-purpose analysis · Examined for validity & reliability

✅ Self-Assessment Questions​

  1. Define scientific research in your own words. What distinguishes it from ordinary, everyday inquiry?

  2. A student researcher reports that children who eat breakfast perform better in school. Identify which of the four research objectives (exploratory, descriptive, diagnostic, or hypothesis-testing) this study best fits, and explain why.

  3. Validity vs. Reliability: A questionnaire consistently gives the same scores each time it is administered to the same person, but the scores do not predict academic performance. Is this instrument valid? Is it reliable? Explain the difference.

  4. Why is replicability considered the cornerstone of scientific credibility? Use the replication crisis to illustrate your answer.

  5. Logical reasoning in research involves both induction and deduction. Provide a concrete example of each in the context of psychological research.

🔗 Cross-References​

📄 Source: MPC-005 Research Methods, Block-1, Unit-1, Pages 5–9 | IGNOU