1B- scientific methodologies

Question 1

case study definition

Answer 1

an in-depth investigation of an individual, group, or particular phenomenon
(activity, behaviour, event, or problem) that contains a real or hypothetical situation and
includes the complexities that would be encountered in the real world.

Question 2

experiment definition

Answer 2

when a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables is measured in a controlled environment

Question 3

correlation study definition

Answer 3

a type of non-experimental
study in which researchers
observe and measure the
relationship between two
or more variables without
any active control or
manipulation of them

Question 4

Classification definition

Answer 4

the arrangement of
phenomena, objects,
or events into
manageable sets

Question 5

identification definition

Answer 5

a process
of recognition of
phenomena as belonging
to particular sets or
possibly being part of
a new or unique set

Question 6

fieldwork definition

Answer 6

any research
involving observation and
interaction with people
and environments in real-world settings, conducted
beyond the laboratory

Question 7

Literature review definition

Answer 7

refers to the process of collating and analysing secondary data related to
other people’s scientific findings and/or viewpoints, in order to answer a question or provide
background information to help explain observed events, or as preparation for an investigation
to generate primary data.

Question 8

Modelling definition

Answer 8

refers to the construction and/or manipulation of either a physical model, such as
a small- or large-scale representation of an object, or a conceptual model that represents
a system, involving concepts that help people know, understand, or simulate the system.

Question 9

Product, process or system development definition

Answer 9

refers broadly to the design
or evaluation of an artifact, process, or system to meet a human need, which may involve
technological applications, in addition to scientific knowledge and procedures.

Question 10

simulation definition

Answer 10

refers to the process of using a model to study the behaviour of a real or theoretical system.

Question 11

experimental group definition

Answer 11

refers to the group of participants in an experiment who are exposed to a manipulated independent variable (i.e. a specific intervention or treatment).

Question 12

controlled group definition

Answer 12

refers to the group of participants in an experiment who receive no experimental treatment or intervention in order to serve as a baseline for comparison

Question 13

within-subjects design definition

Answer 13

an experimental design in which participants complete every
experimental condition.

Question 14

between-subjects design definition

Answer 14

an experimental design in which individuals are divided into
different groups and complete only one experimental condition

Question 15

Mixed method design definition

Answer 15

an experimental design
which combines elements
of within-subjects and
between-subjects designs

Question 16

extraneous variable definition

Answer 16

is any variable that is not the independent variable but may cause an unwanted effect on the
dependent variable

Question 17

controlled experiment advantages

Answer 17

.They allow researchers to infer causal
relationships between, and draw conclusions
about, specific variables.
* They provide researchers with a high level of
control over conditions and variables.
* They follow a strictly controlled procedure so
it can be repeated to check results.
* They can allow researchers to test hypotheses
more quickly than in real-world settings.
* The high control of variables may mean
prevention of extraneous and confounding
variables.

Question 18

controlled experiment disadvantages

Answer 18

• As they are often conducted in a laboratory or
  highly controlled setting, the setting may not be
  reflective of real life. This may affect participants’
  responses.
• Because experiments involve human control
  and manipulation of variables, they are open to
  researcher error or ‘experimenter effects’.
• It can be time-consuming and expensive to
  manipulate and measure certain variables.
• Confounding or extraneous variables can still occur.

Question 19

case study advantages

Answer 19

• They provide highly detailed, rich information
  about a particular phenomenon under study.
  This can also provide new knowledge about
  other phenomena, e.g. studying brain trauma
  may inform us about brain function.
• They allow phenomena, including rare
  phenomena, to be examined in depth, which can
  provide ideas for future studies and hypotheses.
• They can incorporate other scientific
  methodologies to gain data

Question 20

case study disadvantages

Answer 20

• Results cannot be generalised (applied) to a wider
  population, as case studies often only involve a
  small group of people or one person.
• Case studies are subject to researcher bias and
  errors, as often one or only a few researchers.
• It can be difficult to draw conclusions about cause
  and effect.
• Case studies can be time-consuming.

Question 21

correlation study advantages

Answer 21

• There is no manipulation of variables required.
• They can provide ideas for future hypotheses
  and research, as well as form the basis for
  theories.
• They can provide information about the
  relationships and associations between
  variables.
• They can be conducted in naturalistic settings,
  so findings are applicable to real work.

Question 22

correlation study disadvantages

Answer 22

Their results cannot draw conclusions about cause
and effect.
* They can be subject to the influence of extraneous
variables

Question 23

classification and identification advantages

Answer 23

• It provides a common language to
  communicate about scientific phenomena.
• It helps to simplify, explain and describe
  complex phenomena.
• It allows scientists to form more targeted
  solutions or interventions to real problems.
• It allows researchers to form theories and
  hypotheses about labelled phenomena.

Question 24

classification and identification disadvantages

Answer 24

• It can over-simplify reality.
• Labels and language can be inaccurate and
  create bias.

Question 25

fieldwork advantages

Answer 25

It can be conducted in naturalistic settings, so
findings are more applicable to the real world.
This means it has high ecological validity.
* Fieldwork provides rich, detailed data.
* Fieldwork can use a broad range of different
methodologies depending on the object of
inquiry and resourcing needs.
* As it can occur over a longer time period,
it can uncover information that may not
be immediately obvious to researchers and
participants.

Question 26

feildwork disadvantages

Answer 26

• It can be time-consuming and expensive to conduct
  and then record data.
• It can generally not inform conclusions about cause
  and effect.
• Due to lengthy procedures in a real-world setting,
  fieldwork is difficult to replicate in order to verify
  results.
• It is difficult to control the environment and
  extraneous variables, as researchers do not
  precisely manipulate variables.

Question 27

literature review advantages

Answer 27

• It provides background information on
  specific phenomena that can inform new
  studies and hypotheses.
• It allows researchers to understand the
  current ‘state of play’ for a specific object of
  inquiry and answer questions.
• Through information synthesis, it may uncover
  patterns of knowledge or gaps of knowledge.

Question 28

literature review disadvantages

Answer 28

• It may be time-consuming.
• It may be difficult to do if little research has been
  done on a topic.

Question 29

modeling advantages

Answer 29

• It can provide explanatory tools.
• Physical modelling allows researchers to
  know, understand and problem solve.
• Conceptual modelling can simplify and explain
  certain phenomena.

Question 29

modeling disadvantages

Answer 29

As models are often used to simplify and
communicate ideas, they may over-simplify or
inaccurately represent reality.

Question 30

product, process, or system development advantages

Answer 30

• It creates products, processes and systems that
  may meet a human need.

Question 31

product, process, or system development disadvantages

Answer 31

• It can be expensive and time-consuming

Question 32

simulation advantages

Answer 32

• Simulation provides insight into potential
  circumstances and events.
• It allows researchers to view micro, hard-tosee phenomena, such as neurons, in detail.
• It allows researchers to see events that might
  otherwise be too time-consuming, dangerous
  or impractical to see in reality.

Question 33

simulation disadvantages

Answer 33

• It can be time-consuming and expensive.
• It is subject to programming and human error
  so may not always be an accurate prediction or
  reflection of reality.