Creative Study Design in Social Psychology

Creative study design helps social psychology researchers test ideas about human thought, emotions, and behavior. Many research questions begin with a theory that suggests a possible explanation for everyday life. Some of those ideas are hard to study directly, so researchers need a careful plan to test them.

Creative experimental design is required to take certain theories from the speculative state to the testable state.

Psychology studies originate when a researcher develops a theory regarding human thoughts, emotions, or behaviors. Often this theory is firmly situated in common experiences and may not stimulate direct empirical study.