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2. Choose a Research Method

Your topic and hypothesis will often dictate or direct the research method you will use. If your hypothesis is about an individual, for example, you might work with a case study. The child behavior topic above might lend itself to naturalistic observation.

Keep in mind that this will not be an entirely scientific research study, as you will not be able to use the sample size, random sample, time frame, or testing used in a full psychological research study. That’s OK! You can adapt your research method so you can conduct it easily in the time you have.

Here’s a reminder of the research methods we explored in the exercise:

Research method:	Description:
Experimental	An independent variable is manipulated while others are controlled to see the effects on a dependent variable.
Correlational	Measures the strength of a relationship between variables using statistics.
Naturalistic	Observes behavior as it occurs spontaneously in a natural setting.
Survey	Creates a snapshot of a large number of people’s attitudes, opinions, or behavior.
Case study	Investigates a single person/event or small group in depth.

In your paper, write about the research method you chose. Why did you feel it was best for this project?

3. Conduct Research and Report Findings

Now it’s time to conduct the research you’ve specified. Remember to keep it manageable (how many people you work with, how long you spend, and so on), but still keep in mind the foundation of the method you chose and how it relates to your hypothesis.

To complete your 2-3 page paper, write about the methods you used to conduct your research and be sure to carefully detail the resulting findings. Do the findings support or oppose your hypothesis? Why or why not?