Research Design in Clinical Psychology

Communication of results of research is a critical step in science and entails all the other topics we have covered in relation to methodology. This communication usually is a written report (e.g., for a thesis or dissertation, granting agency, or journal article) or for presentation (e.g., poster session, conference presentation). In these different formats, there are common goals and requirements. In each format, the researcher’s challenge is to convey why the question that guides research is important and the way in which it has been addressed in the study is suitable. Methodology plays major roles throughout the processes of planning, conducting, interpreting, and communicating research results. Three interrelated tasks are involved in preparing a manuscript whether for a thesis, dissertation, presentation or journal article. These were described as description, explanation, and contextualization of the study. The writing we are routinely taught in science focuses on description, but the other portions are central as well and determine whether a study not only appears to be important but also in fact actually is. Recommendations were made regarding what to address and how to incorporate description, explanation, and contextualization within the different sections of a manuscript (e.g., Introduction, Method). In addition, questions were provided to direct the researcher to the types of issues reviewers are likely to ask about a manuscript.