design a study to investigate the relationship between age and ability to generate ideas.

If we break down the question the aim of the study would be to investigate and see if there is a relationship between age and the ability to generate ideas, and whether the results would be the same as the previous study where the younger participants seemed to generate more ideas than the older participants. The research would be based on finding out what happens rather than finding out why things happens, as the aim is to find out whether the younger participants do actually generate more ideas, hence it would come under the Relational Research category. Kendra Cherry states “A study that investigates the connection between two or more variables is considered relational research.” Cherry (2013) I am investigating the age of the participant and the effect this has on the number of ideas that are generated. Where as Descriptive studies do not seek to measure the effect of a variable; they seek only to describe and causal relationships investigate the effect of one or more variables on one or more outcome variables. This type of research also determines if one variable causes another variable to occur or change.
Psychologists collect evidence in many different ways. “Psychology as an academic discipline has been around for nearly 150 years … passing through many phases each of these phases has left us its methods of research.” Hayes (2007). I feel the best method to use for my study would be using the scientific method, as it will be easier to replicate, as it uses a standardise procedures, give validity to the evidence and data gathered, and I will be able to draw conclusions from the evidence and support or un support the theory that younger participants do in fact generate more ideas. Shaughnessy (2002) states “psychologists utilize the scientific method to conduct psychological research. The scientific method is a set of principles and procedures that are used by researchers to develop questions collect data and reach conclusions.” As I already know

References: Cooligan, H (2009 ) Research methods and statistics in psychology, Hodder Arnold Fife-schaw, C (2000) Research methods in Psychology (2nd ed) Sage Publications Gross, R. (1992). Psychology: The Science of Mind and behavior (2nd ed). Hodder and Staughton. Hayes, N (2007) Psychology. Hodder headline London Shaughnessy, J (2002) Research Methods in Psychology (Mcgraw-Hill International Editions: Psychology Series) Websites: Cherry K (2013) Psychology Research Methods McLeod, S. A. (2007). Experimental Design - Simply Psychology. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from http://www.simplypsychology.org/experimental-designs.html Fowler, F SparkNotes Editors, (2005). SparkNote on Research Methods in Psychology. Retrieved November 26, 2013, from http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/researchmethods/ Bibliography Chow, S. L. (2002). Methods in Psychological research. Eolss Publishers, Oxford, UK Cooligan, H (2009 ) Research methods and statistics in psychology, Hodder Arnold Fife-schaw, C (2000) Research methods in Psychology (2nd ed) Sage Publications Gross, R Hayes, N (2007) Psychology. Hodder headline London Shaughnessy, J (1985) Research methods in psychology (Alfred A Shaughnessy, J (2002) Research Methods in Psychology (Mcgraw-Hill International Editions: Psychology Series)