The purpose of the present area is to describe and discuss methodology and research design in program evaluation. The focus is on clinical psychology but the issues and methods are relevant to other areas as well, such as counseling, education, psychiatry, and social work, to mention a few. The topics within each of these areas span theory, research, and application. Consequently, many of the methodological challenges are shared. This web site elaborates the methods of conducting research and the broad range of practices, procedures, and designs for developing a sound knowledge base.
Often research methods are presented by describing idealized conditions of laboratory studies or in abstract discussions removed from investigations within the field. In clinical psychology as well as related areas a great deal of research is conducted outside of the laboratory. Essentials of research design are no less important. Indeed, an in-depth understanding of research design is of even greater important in clinical research than in areas where laboratory controls and procedures are routinely available.
