Original reports of research studies

While philosophers ponder life’s big questions and poets play with words to convey their ideas, psychologists carry out scientific research. They have many options: observe people, ask people questions or set up conditions to see how people react. In broad terms, psychologists generate answers to research questions through either quantitative or qualitative methods or by combining both methods.

While reading an original report of a research study is challenging, the experience is much more rewarding than simply reading a summary or brief description of the study.

The site, Classics in the History of Psychology, is also another very good source.

Suggested activities

• Find the original report of a study you found particularly interesting in Year 1 and read the report. Reflect on how accurate the summary you read was compared to the full report

• Provide the link to any original study of interest by means of the comment facility on this post.