Cutting-edge research methods in psychology: What students should know
Staying abreast of cutting-edge research methods in psychology can help you develop curiosity and passion about your work as a student. It can also help shape your interests and goals as you consider your future career opportunities in psychology research or clinical practice.
Cutting-edge research methods in psychology introduce new and innovative perspectives to the existing body of knowledge. They utilize the latest technologies in methods that explore questions about human behavior and current mental health issues in new ways. Whether you’re pursuing a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree or a doctorate in psychology, staying informed about cutting-edge research methods can enhance your academic perspective.
Cutting-edge research methods in psychology introduce new and innovative perspectives to the existing body of knowledge.
Since research is the basis for all aspects of psychological knowledge and practice, you can find cutting-edge methods in all areas of the field. Following the processes and outcomes of cutting-edge studies can prepare you to integrate novel concepts into your own research and eventual practice no matter what area of psychology you pursue.
“One of the cool things about psychological science is no matter what area of psychology a person is working in or has an interest in, almost every domain has seen a flourishing of more sophisticated research methods, whether it’s psychotherapy outcome research or the process of psychotherapy, meaning what techniques work and what techniques do not; developmental science looking at things like parent-child interactions even with infants; or educational-based research. Every domain of psychological research has really grown and developed,” said Anthony Tasso, PhD, ABPP, Professor of Psychology and Deputy Director of the School of Psychology and Counseling at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Concepts in cutting-edge research
The integration of psychology and neuroscience research is a notable advancement in cutting-edge research. Advancements in neuroimaging technology allow scientists to observe brain activity in new ways to study aspects of behavior and emotion in the study of psychology
“One of the more exciting and burgeoning research areas in psychology is the marriage of the neuroscientific method with traditional psychological concepts. Historically, these were two areas that were considered somewhat mutually exclusive with each area operating in its own research silos. However, recent decades have seen the real merging of neuroscience with traditional psychology, whether it’s developmental science or clinical psychology, so the basic research lab of the neuroscientist has now made its way into the psychotherapy offices and developmental study offices and vice versa,” said Tasso. “You’ve seen a flourishing of this relationship which has shed a lot of light on human functioning and clinical work.”
Like these advances, much of cutting-edge research relies on novel ways to use new and improved aspects of technology. “Unquestionably, this is attributable to changes in technology. Certain concepts, for example, the investigation of some unconscious processes on a neurological or neurochemical level, could not have been investigated 75 years ago the way they can and are today. These two worlds [psychology/psychiatry and neuroscience] have been merged, in part, because of advances in our scientific and technological approaches,” says Tasso.
Another cutting-edge method involves the use of virtual reality in psychological research. “The flourishing of virtual reality has definitely entered psychological science. Creating scenarios that, in many ways, would not be safe or plausible to investigate in a traditional research laboratory, now can be done in contrived settings using virtual reality that illuminates real-life or real-world scenarios in a way that you could not have done a few decades ago,” says Tasso.
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In psychological research, virtual reality can create complex environments that can be precisely manipulated to duplicate specific stimuli to study their effects on human behavior. “Virtual reality is used with a lot of performance-based scenarios looking at things like the effects of fatigue on performance, where you wouldn’t want a fatigued person behind an actual automobile, but you can put a fatigued person or a person under the influence of a controlled substance in a virtual reality situation to measure their performance,” said Tasso.
As you study and dive into cutting-edge research methods, you’ll also find the inclusion of more big data in psychological research. “Big data sets are something that the field aspires to and depending on the nature of one’s research, they often try to do. The sharing of data is something that has changed in recent times. Researchers in journals and different bodies that are giving grants are encouraging researchers to share data sets—not only to make sure that some people can do their own independent investigations, but so different ideas can be born out of these data sets, so one research study coming from one research lab can stimulate other researchers to do related types of investigations,” said Tasso.
Staying informed about cutting-edge research
The combination of technology, improved research collaboration and expanded accessibility means that research is conducted and shared faster and more efficiently. Establishing a process for staying engaged and informed regarding current psychology research will benefit you as a student and throughout your career.
“I always try to encourage students with the idea that, ‘You don’t always have to be a researcher, but I hope you are always a consumer of research.’ Make sure you’re reading. Read professional journal articles every now and again or a book in your field of interest that is anchored or has a foundational base in science,” he said. “To stay on top of it doesn’t mean that you have to know all that’s happening out there, no one does, even those immersed in the world of research. But, for the areas you’re interested in, try to stay abreast of the literature to the best of your ability,” said Tasso.
Establishing a process for staying engaged and informed regarding current psychology research will benefit you as a student and throughout your career.
It’s relatively easy for you to stay informed about cutting-edge research methods in psychology as a student. Professional organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association for Psychological Science–APS, the American Academy of Clinical Psychology (AACP) and many others provide a wide range of free informational resources on their websites and social media. For more extensive access to research, these organizations also offer discount student memberships that provide access to professional journals and other member-only research reports.
However, with so much information available, it’s important to ensure that you’re relying on trusted sources such as peer-reviewed journals and other resources that are vetted for their professional and research integrity.
“No matter how excited you get about research, we want to be mindful that no one study can answer a question completely. Sometimes, especially when people just start getting really excited in reading research and diving into the field of psychological science, there’s a propensity to read one article and think that that is ‘the finding’ or that it is a concept or a finding that is static in some capacity. It’s important to remember in any kind of science we look for redundancy. We want to see repeated findings, similar findings across different labs and different areas, so we want to be judicious with our inferences with psychological findings,” advised Tasso.
Getting involved in cutting-edge research
No matter where you are in your education, participating in psychology research as a student helps you develop a diverse knowledge base and learn critical thinking skills, assets you will use in any type of psychology career. When you’re involved in cutting-edge research, you also have the chance to learn about novel tools and trends as they emerge. These opportunities can help you gain a new perspective on existing information and develop your own ideas for creative and innovative ways to contribute to the field of psychology.
You will have a richer research experience if you work on a topic that piques your curiosity or ignites your passion. However, moving from an interested student to active researcher requires making the connections necessary to become involved.
“Sometimes, a good old-fashioned email to a researcher or a lab that is doing research that you’re interested in can go a long way. If there’s a particular area of research that you would like to get involved with in some capacity, reach out to that scientist or that lab saying, ‘I’m interested in your work, and I’d like to get involved. Do you have any room for research assistants or volunteers or people working in the lab?’ Often, there is availability. Sometimes if there’s not, they’re able to put you in touch with someone who may be able to help you in your institution of choice,” said Tasso.
Reaching out to current and past professors can also help you make connections with those involved in the areas you want to pursue. “If there is availability, professors and researchers often enjoy doing things like that because it’s exciting to be able to help an enthusiastic person who is trying to learn or get involved in research at the early stage of their career. It’s really exciting for mid-career and seasoned scholars to help teach and educate on that level,” Tasso explained.