1.1 Research methods and techniques

Question 1

What is a laboratory experiment?

Answer 1

An experiment conducted under highly controlled conditions to investigate the effect that the change of an IV has on the DV

Question 2

What is a field experiment?

Answer 2

An experiment carried out in the everyday environment of the participants. The experimenter still manipulates the IV and tests the effect on the DV, but the research has no control over extraneous variables

Question 3

What is a quasi experiment?

Answer 3

Research has no control over the IV, but instead must choose a naturally occurring variable and test the effect on the DV. Artificial or natural setting

Question 4

What is the difference between a naturalistic and controlled observation?

Answer 4

In a naturalistic observation, a participant’s behaviour is studied in a natural environment. In a controlled observation, they are observed in a controlled environment, such as a laboratory.

Question 5

What is the difference between an overt and covert observation?

Answer 5

In an overt observation, the participants know that they are being observed, whereas in a covert observation, they do not know

Question 6

What is the difference between a participant and non-participant observation?

Answer 6

In a participant observation, the observer takes part in the experiment. In a non-participant observation, the researcher observes without participating in the experiment itself

Question 7

What is the difference between a structured and unstructured observation?

Answer 7

An unstructured observation generates descriptions (qualitative data). Structured generates quantitative data as the observation focuses on categorised behaviours from a coding scheme.

Question 8

What are features of a good coding scheme?

Answer 8

• Objective and clear
• Cover all possibilities
• No overlapping categories

Question 9

What is event sampling and what are its strengths?

Answer 9

Observations of how many times a particular event happens.
- Good for when behaviours are not frequent
- Less likely to miss behaviour

Question 10

What is time sampling and what are its strengths?

Answer 10

Set time intervals that the observation takes place with breaks.
- Increases concentration
- Allows time to record data

Question 11

What are the two main types of self report?

Answer 11

Interviews (verbal) and questionnaires (written)

Question 12

Structured interview

Answer 12

Each interview is presented with exactly the same questions in the same order and the researcher aims to obtain quantitative data

Question 13

Unstructured interview

Answer 13

Questions in this style of interview are not prearranged. The data obtained from this style of interview is usually qualitative

Question 14

Open ended questions

Answer 14

Questions which obtain qualitative data by asking questions which cannot be answered with just one word. Meaningful answers with rich data.

Question 15

Closed ended questions

Answer 15

Can be answered with just one word like yes or no. Easy to answer and score.

Question 16

Rating scale

Answer 16

Requires respondents to answer a question by selecting a value to reflect their perception on a topic

Question 17

Likert scales

Answer 17

Have a statement and range from strongly disagree to strongly agree

Question 18

Strengths of a likert scale

Answer 18

• Easy to swap positive to negative statements
• Quantitative data, which is easy to analyse
• Reliable

Question 19

Weaknesses of a likert scale

Answer 19

• Tendency for respondents to go for the middle
• Social desirability bias
• Less detailed answers

Question 20

Semantic differentials

Answer 20

7 spaces ranging between two opposite words (eg. happy and sad)

Question 21

How to test internal reliability in self report

Answer 21

• split half method
• correlating the results of half the items against the other half
• High and positive coefficient, then internal reliability is deemed high

Question 22

How to test external reliability in self report

Answer 22

• test retest method
• correlating the results from one time to another
• If the correlation has a high and positive coefficient, then external reliability is deemed high

Question 23

How to increase the reliability of self report

Answer 23

• Large sample
• Questionnaires completed in the same conditions
• Getting respondents to complete the questionnaire twice with a few days in between)

Question 24

What are smokescreen questions?

Answer 24

Questions in a questionnaire that mask the critical/important questions

Question 25

What are the variables in correlations called?

Answer 25

co-variables

Question 26

What are correlations good for?

Answer 26

Starting research as they show there is a relationship

Question 27

What is the main weakness of correlations?

Answer 27

Does not show cause and effect