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Conducting your first psychology experiment can be a long, complicated, and sometimes intimidating process. It can be especially confusing if you are not quite sure where to begin or which steps to take.Like other sciences, psychology utilizes thescientific methodand bases conclusions upon empirical evidence. When conducting an experiment, it is important to follow the seven basic steps of the scientific method:Ask a testable questionDefine your variablesConduct background researchDesign your experimentPerform the experimentCollect and analyze the dataDraw conclusionsShare the results with the scientific communityAt a GlanceIt’s important to know the steps of the scientific method if you are conducting an experiment in psychology or other fields. The processes encompasses finding a problem you want to explore, learning what has already been discovered about the topic, determining your variables, and finally designing and performing your experiment. But the process doesn’t end there! Once you’ve collected your data, it’s time to analyze the numbers, determine what they mean, and share what you’ve found.
Conducting your first psychology experiment can be a long, complicated, and sometimes intimidating process. It can be especially confusing if you are not quite sure where to begin or which steps to take.
Like other sciences, psychology utilizes thescientific methodand bases conclusions upon empirical evidence. When conducting an experiment, it is important to follow the seven basic steps of the scientific method:
At a GlanceIt’s important to know the steps of the scientific method if you are conducting an experiment in psychology or other fields. The processes encompasses finding a problem you want to explore, learning what has already been discovered about the topic, determining your variables, and finally designing and performing your experiment. But the process doesn’t end there! Once you’ve collected your data, it’s time to analyze the numbers, determine what they mean, and share what you’ve found.
At a Glance
It’s important to know the steps of the scientific method if you are conducting an experiment in psychology or other fields. The processes encompasses finding a problem you want to explore, learning what has already been discovered about the topic, determining your variables, and finally designing and performing your experiment. But the process doesn’t end there! Once you’ve collected your data, it’s time to analyze the numbers, determine what they mean, and share what you’ve found.
1Find a Research Problem or QuestionWilliam Taufic / Getty ImagesPicking a research problem can be one of the most challenging steps when you are conducting an experiment. After all, there are so many different topics you might choose to investigate.Are you stuck for an idea? Consider some of the following:Investigate a Commonly Held BeliefFolk knowledge is a good source of questions that can serve as the basis for psychological research. For example, many people believe that staying up all night to cram for a big exam can actually hurt test performance.You could conduct a study to compare the test scores of students who stayed up all night with the scores of students who got a full night’s sleep before the exam.Review Psychology LiteraturePublished studies are a great source of unanswered research questions. In many cases, the authors will even note the need for further research. Find a published study that you find intriguing, and then come up with some questions that require further exploration.Think About Everyday ProblemsThere are many practical applications for psychology research. Explore various problems that you or others face each day, and then consider how you could research potential solutions. For example, you might investigate different memorization strategies to determine which methods are most effective.
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Find a Research Problem or QuestionWilliam Taufic / Getty ImagesPicking a research problem can be one of the most challenging steps when you are conducting an experiment. After all, there are so many different topics you might choose to investigate.Are you stuck for an idea? Consider some of the following:Investigate a Commonly Held BeliefFolk knowledge is a good source of questions that can serve as the basis for psychological research. For example, many people believe that staying up all night to cram for a big exam can actually hurt test performance.You could conduct a study to compare the test scores of students who stayed up all night with the scores of students who got a full night’s sleep before the exam.Review Psychology LiteraturePublished studies are a great source of unanswered research questions. In many cases, the authors will even note the need for further research. Find a published study that you find intriguing, and then come up with some questions that require further exploration.Think About Everyday ProblemsThere are many practical applications for psychology research. Explore various problems that you or others face each day, and then consider how you could research potential solutions. For example, you might investigate different memorization strategies to determine which methods are most effective.
Find a Research Problem or Question
William Taufic / Getty Images
Picking a research problem can be one of the most challenging steps when you are conducting an experiment. After all, there are so many different topics you might choose to investigate.
Are you stuck for an idea? Consider some of the following:
Investigate a Commonly Held Belief
Folk knowledge is a good source of questions that can serve as the basis for psychological research. For example, many people believe that staying up all night to cram for a big exam can actually hurt test performance.
You could conduct a study to compare the test scores of students who stayed up all night with the scores of students who got a full night’s sleep before the exam.
Review Psychology Literature
Published studies are a great source of unanswered research questions. In many cases, the authors will even note the need for further research. Find a published study that you find intriguing, and then come up with some questions that require further exploration.
Think About Everyday Problems
There are many practical applications for psychology research. Explore various problems that you or others face each day, and then consider how you could research potential solutions. For example, you might investigate different memorization strategies to determine which methods are most effective.
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Define Your Variables
Variablesare anything that might impact the outcome of your study. An operational definition describes exactly what the variables are and how they are measured within the context of your study.
For example, if you were doing a study on the impact of sleep deprivation on driving performance, you would need to operationally definesleep deprivationanddriving performance.
An operational definition refers to a precise way that an abstract concept will be measured.For example, you cannot directly observe and measure something liketest anxiety. You can, however, use an anxiety scale and assign values based on how many anxiety symptoms a person is experiencing.
In this example, you might define sleep deprivation as getting less than seven hours of sleep at night. You might define driving performance as how well a participant does on a driving test.
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Develop a Hypothesis
The next step is to develop a testablehypothesisthat predicts how the operationally defined variables are related. In the recent example, the hypothesis might be: “Students who are sleep-deprived will perform worse than students who are not sleep-deprived on a test of driving performance.”
Null Hypothesis
In order to determine if the results of the study are significant, it is essential to also have a null hypothesis. The null hypothesis is the prediction that one variable will have no association to the other variable.
In other words, the null hypothesis assumes that there will be no difference in the effects of the two treatments in our experimental andcontrol groups.
It is important to remember thatnot rejectingthe null hypothesis does not mean that you areacceptingthe null hypothesis. To say that you are accepting the null hypothesis is to suggest that something is true simply because you did not find any evidence against it. This represents a logical fallacy that should be avoided in scientific research.
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Conduct Background Research
Once you have developed a testable hypothesis, it is important to spend some time doing some background research. What do researchers already know about your topic? What questions remain unanswered?
Reading previous research helps you gain a better understanding of what you will encounter when conducting an experiment. Understanding the background of your topic provides a better basis for your own hypothesis.
After conducting a thorough review of the literature, you might choose to alter your own hypothesis. Background research also allows you to explainwhyyou chose to investigate your particular hypothesis and articulate why the topic merits further exploration.
Tip:As you research the history of your topic, take careful notes and create a workingbibliographyof your sources. This information will be valuable when you begin to write up your experiment results.
Tip:
As you research the history of your topic, take careful notes and create a workingbibliographyof your sources. This information will be valuable when you begin to write up your experiment results.
5Select an Experimental DesignAfter conducting background research and finalizing your hypothesis, your next step is to develop an experimental design. There are three basic types of designs that you might utilize. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses:Pre-Experimental DesignA single group of participants is studied, and there is no comparison between a treatment group and a control group. Examples of pre-experimental designs includecase studies(one group is given a treatment and the results are measured) and pre-test/post-test studies (one group is tested, given a treatment, and then retested).Quasi-Experimental DesignThis type of experimental design does include a control group but does not include randomization. This type of design is often used if it is not feasible or ethical to perform a randomized controlled trial.True Experimental DesignA true experimental design, also known as a randomized controlled trial, includes both of the elements that pre-experimental designs and quasi-experimental designs lack—control groups andrandom assignmentto groups.
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Select an Experimental DesignAfter conducting background research and finalizing your hypothesis, your next step is to develop an experimental design. There are three basic types of designs that you might utilize. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses:Pre-Experimental DesignA single group of participants is studied, and there is no comparison between a treatment group and a control group. Examples of pre-experimental designs includecase studies(one group is given a treatment and the results are measured) and pre-test/post-test studies (one group is tested, given a treatment, and then retested).Quasi-Experimental DesignThis type of experimental design does include a control group but does not include randomization. This type of design is often used if it is not feasible or ethical to perform a randomized controlled trial.True Experimental DesignA true experimental design, also known as a randomized controlled trial, includes both of the elements that pre-experimental designs and quasi-experimental designs lack—control groups andrandom assignmentto groups.
Select an Experimental Design
After conducting background research and finalizing your hypothesis, your next step is to develop an experimental design. There are three basic types of designs that you might utilize. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses:
Pre-Experimental Design
A single group of participants is studied, and there is no comparison between a treatment group and a control group. Examples of pre-experimental designs includecase studies(one group is given a treatment and the results are measured) and pre-test/post-test studies (one group is tested, given a treatment, and then retested).
Quasi-Experimental Design
This type of experimental design does include a control group but does not include randomization. This type of design is often used if it is not feasible or ethical to perform a randomized controlled trial.
True Experimental Design
A true experimental design, also known as a randomized controlled trial, includes both of the elements that pre-experimental designs and quasi-experimental designs lack—control groups andrandom assignmentto groups.
6Standardize Your ProceduresIn order to arrive at legitimate conclusions, it is essential to compare apples to apples.Each participant in each group must receive the same treatment under the same conditions.For example, in our hypothetical study on the effects of sleep deprivation on driving performance, the driving test must be administered to each participant in the same way. The driving course must be the same, the obstacles faced must be the same, and the time given must be the same.
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Standardize Your ProceduresIn order to arrive at legitimate conclusions, it is essential to compare apples to apples.Each participant in each group must receive the same treatment under the same conditions.For example, in our hypothetical study on the effects of sleep deprivation on driving performance, the driving test must be administered to each participant in the same way. The driving course must be the same, the obstacles faced must be the same, and the time given must be the same.
Standardize Your Procedures
In order to arrive at legitimate conclusions, it is essential to compare apples to apples.
Each participant in each group must receive the same treatment under the same conditions.
For example, in our hypothetical study on the effects of sleep deprivation on driving performance, the driving test must be administered to each participant in the same way. The driving course must be the same, the obstacles faced must be the same, and the time given must be the same.
7Choose Your ParticipantsIn addition to making sure that the testing conditions are standardized, it is also essential to ensure that your pool of participants is the same.If the individuals in your control group (those who are not sleep deprived) all happen to be amateur race car drivers while your experimental group (those that are sleep deprived) are all people who just recently earned their driver’s licenses, your experiment will lack standardization.When choosing subjects, there are some different techniques you can use.Simple Random SampleIn a simple random sample, the participants arerandomly selectedfrom a group. A simple random sample can be used to represent the entire population from which the representative sample is drawn.Drawing a simple random sample can be helpful when you don’t know a lot about the characteristics of the population.Stratified Random SampleParticipants must be randomly selected from different subsets of the population. These subsets might include characteristics such as geographic location, age, sex, race, or socioeconomic status.Stratified random samples are more complex to carry out. However, you might opt for this method if there are key characteristics about the population that you want to explore in your research.
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Choose Your ParticipantsIn addition to making sure that the testing conditions are standardized, it is also essential to ensure that your pool of participants is the same.If the individuals in your control group (those who are not sleep deprived) all happen to be amateur race car drivers while your experimental group (those that are sleep deprived) are all people who just recently earned their driver’s licenses, your experiment will lack standardization.When choosing subjects, there are some different techniques you can use.Simple Random SampleIn a simple random sample, the participants arerandomly selectedfrom a group. A simple random sample can be used to represent the entire population from which the representative sample is drawn.Drawing a simple random sample can be helpful when you don’t know a lot about the characteristics of the population.Stratified Random SampleParticipants must be randomly selected from different subsets of the population. These subsets might include characteristics such as geographic location, age, sex, race, or socioeconomic status.Stratified random samples are more complex to carry out. However, you might opt for this method if there are key characteristics about the population that you want to explore in your research.
Choose Your Participants
In addition to making sure that the testing conditions are standardized, it is also essential to ensure that your pool of participants is the same.
If the individuals in your control group (those who are not sleep deprived) all happen to be amateur race car drivers while your experimental group (those that are sleep deprived) are all people who just recently earned their driver’s licenses, your experiment will lack standardization.
When choosing subjects, there are some different techniques you can use.
Simple Random Sample
In a simple random sample, the participants arerandomly selectedfrom a group. A simple random sample can be used to represent the entire population from which the representative sample is drawn.
Drawing a simple random sample can be helpful when you don’t know a lot about the characteristics of the population.
Stratified Random Sample
Participants must be randomly selected from different subsets of the population. These subsets might include characteristics such as geographic location, age, sex, race, or socioeconomic status.
Stratified random samples are more complex to carry out. However, you might opt for this method if there are key characteristics about the population that you want to explore in your research.
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Conduct Tests and Collect Data
After you have selected participants, the next steps are to conduct your tests and collect the data. Before doing any testing, however, there are a few important concerns that need to be addressed.
Address Ethical Concerns
Obtain Informed Consent
After you have gained approval from your institution’s IRB, you will need to presentinformed consentforms to each participant. This form offers information on the study, the data that will be gathered, and how the results will be used. The form also gives participants the option to withdraw from the study at any point in time.
Once this step has been completed, you can begin administering your testing procedures and collecting the data.
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Analyze the Results
After collecting your data, it is time to analyze the results of your experiment. Researchers use statistics to determine if the results of the study support the original hypothesis and if the results are statistically significant.
The types of statistical methods you use to analyze your data depend largely on the type of data that you collected. If you are using a random sample of a larger population, you will need to utilize inferential statistics.
These statistical methods make inferences about how the results relate to the population at large.
Because you are making inferences based on a sample, it has to be assumed that there will be a certain margin of error.This refers to the amount of error in your results. A large margin of error means that there will be less confidence in your results, while a small margin of error means that you are more confident that your results are an accurate reflection of what exists in that population.
Why Statistics Are Necessary in Psychology
10Share Your Results After Conducting an ExperimentYour final task in conducting an experiment is to communicate your results. By sharing your experiment with the scientific community, you are contributing to the knowledge base on that particular topic.One of the most common ways to share research results is to publish the study in a peer-reviewed professional journal. Other methods include sharing results at conferences, in book chapters, or academic presentations.In your case, it is likely that your class instructor will expect a formal write-up of your experiment in the same format required in a professional journal article orlab report:Title pageAbstractIntroductionMethodResultsDiscussionReferencesTables and figures
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Share Your Results After Conducting an ExperimentYour final task in conducting an experiment is to communicate your results. By sharing your experiment with the scientific community, you are contributing to the knowledge base on that particular topic.One of the most common ways to share research results is to publish the study in a peer-reviewed professional journal. Other methods include sharing results at conferences, in book chapters, or academic presentations.In your case, it is likely that your class instructor will expect a formal write-up of your experiment in the same format required in a professional journal article orlab report:Title pageAbstractIntroductionMethodResultsDiscussionReferencesTables and figures
Share Your Results After Conducting an Experiment
Your final task in conducting an experiment is to communicate your results. By sharing your experiment with the scientific community, you are contributing to the knowledge base on that particular topic.
One of the most common ways to share research results is to publish the study in a peer-reviewed professional journal. Other methods include sharing results at conferences, in book chapters, or academic presentations.
In your case, it is likely that your class instructor will expect a formal write-up of your experiment in the same format required in a professional journal article orlab report:
What This Means For You
11 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Nijhawan LP, Manthan D, Muddukrishna BS, et. al.Informed consent: Issues and challenges.J Adv Pharm Technol Rese. 2013;4(3):134-140. doi:10.4103/2231-4040.116779
Serdar CC, Cihan M, Yücel D, Serdar MA.Sample size, power and effect size revisited: simplified and practical approaches in pre-clinical, clinical and laboratory studies.Biochem Med (Zagreb). 2021;31(1):010502. doi:10.11613/BM.2021.010502
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