7 Research Methods Flashcards
What are the 4 types of experiments?
Lab,
Field,
Natural,
Quasi.
What is a lab experiment?
the aim is to control all relevant variables except foe one key variable, which is altered to see what the effect is. They are conducted in artificial settings.
What are the advs + disadvs of lab experiments?
+ Control - confounding variables minimised.
+ Replication - easy to replicate.
– Artificial - might not measure real-life behaviour.
– Demand characteristics - may respond to what they think is being investigated.
What is a field experiment?
They are conducted outside the lab. Behaviour is measured in a natural environment like a school, the street or on a train. Key variable is still altered.
What are the advs and disadvs of field experiments?
+ Ecological validity - less artificial, so they relate to real life better.
+ Demand characteristics - can be avoided.
– Less control - confounding variables.
–Ethics - people might not want to take part and can’t be debriefed.
What is a natural experiment?
This is when an IV that isn’t manipulated by the researcher affects a DV. the IV isn’t manipulated because it is something that occurs naturally.
What are the advs + disadvs of natural experiments?
+ Ethical - can study variables that might be unethical.
+ Ecological validity - they tend to be less artificial then lab.
– Causal relationships - other variables that aren’t the IV could have an effect.
– Ethics - deception is often used, making informed consent difficult.
What is a quasi experiment?
The researcher isn’t able to use random allocation to put participants in different conditions. This is usually because the IV is a particular feature of the participants e.g. gender.
What are the advs and disadvs of quasi experiments?
+ Control - often carried out under controlled conditions.
+ Ecological validity - research often less artificial than lab so can relate to real-life.
– Participant allocation - can’t random allocate participants to each condition, so confounding variables may effect the result.
– Causal relationship - can be hard to establish cause and effect as IV isn’t directly manipulated.
What is a natural observation?
Observing subjects in their natural environment. Researchers don’t interfere in anyway.
What is a controlled observation?
This is were a situation is carried out in a conditions set up by the researcher. Although more controlled, it has lower ecological validity.
What are the advs and disadvs of observations?
+ Ecological validity - participants’ behaviour is natural and no demand characteristics.
+ Theory development - studies can be a useful way pf developing ideas about behaviour that could be tested in controlled conditions later.
– Extraneous variables - you can’t control variables that may affect behaviour.
– Observer bias – the observer’s expectations may affect what they focus on and record. This means the reliability of the results may be a problem.
What are correlations?
Research that looks for a relationship between 2 variables.
What are the advs and disadvs of correlations?
+ Causal relationship - these can be ruled out if no correlation exists.
+ Ethics - you can study variables that it would be unethical to manipulate
– Causal relationship - these cannot be assumed from a correlation, which may be caused by a third, unknown variable.
– Ethics - misinterpretation can be an issue, sometimes the media infer causality from a correlation.
What are self-report techniques?
Questionnaires and Interviews.
What are the advs and disadvs of questionnaires?
+ Practical - you can collect a large amount of info quickly and cheaply.
– Biased samples - some people are more likely to respond, making a sample unrepresentative.
– Self-report - people often wish to present themselves in a good light so might say what they think they should making results unreliable.
What are the 2 types of interviews?
Structure and unstructured.
What are structured interviews?
They follow a fixed set of questions that are the same for all participants.
What are unstructured interviews?
They have set questions but may have discussion topics and are less constrained about how the conservation goes.
What are the advs and disadvs of interviews?
+ Rich data - you get detailed info
+ Pilot study - interviews are a useful way to get info before a study.
– Self-report - results can be unreliable and affected by social desirability bias
– Impractical - can be time consuming and need skilled researchers.
– Data analysis - analysing the data can be hard, as huge amounts of qualitative data.
