Category: Research Methods

Modern research in the organizational and many other social sciences has become dominated by model testing. Models specify an order … Continue reading >The Weak Inference of Model Testing

In 1992 I wrote a “Little Green Sage Series” book Summated Rating Scale Construction as an accessible guide to creating … Continue reading >Single-Item Measures Are Better Than You Think

Of all the things I study, I am most passionate about research methods—doing research on how we do research. I … Continue reading >Research Methods Determine Scientific Inference

Scientists often repeat studies to determine if they can be replicated, that is, if the same results can be found … Continue reading >What Is a Meta-Analysis

When you break it down, science is about inference. Scientists collect information (data) in a systematic way and draw conclusions … Continue reading >Three Types of Scientific Inference

Last week I blogged about a new study concerning work and suicide. I posted about it on social media and … Continue reading >Did We Really Need a Study to Confirm the Obvious?

I do a lot of survey research. Many of the studies I do rely on people sharing their experiences. As … Continue reading >Choosing Assessments for a Questionnaire Study

I recently read this article by Nancy Doyle who writes about neurodiversity for Forbes. She notes how neurodiverse people can … Continue reading >Can Personality Destroy Test Validity?

In a recent editorial in science’s most prestigious outlet Science, its editor-in-chief Holden Thorp, made the point that we as … Continue reading >Exploration Is the Root of Great Science

In fields that use statistical analysis, such as business, education, health science and social science, it is common practice to … Continue reading >Mastering Control Variables

We have all heard the call to use analytics to support decision-making. That means practicing evidence-based management to base decisions … Continue reading >Three Forms of Analytics Evidence

Managers make decisions that involve people every day—who to hire, how to train, and how to lead, just to name … Continue reading >Using People Analytics

Big data has become the next big thing. In my field of industrial-organizational psychology and management there are articles about … Continue reading >Is It Really Big Data?

The idea of pre-registering studies with journals prior to conducting a study is spreading. Many journals encourage researchers to submit … Continue reading >Pre-Plan Even If You Don’t Pre-Register

At least since Campbell and Fiske’s (1959) classic paper on measurement, researchers have been concerned with item format as a … Continue reading >Item Format Method Variance

I like R because for me, using R is nostalgic. It is a nostalgic experience because R is a throwback … Continue reading >Using R Is Nostalgic

Citation of external sources is a vital element in the writing of research reports, as well as other scholarly and … Continue reading >Optimizing Citations in Research Reports

Science is all about discovery–the discovery of the atom, of penicillin, and of the planets in the solar system. The … Continue reading >Lost Art of Discovery