Criminal Research Methods

Question 1

Why are laboratory experiments used to test eye witness testimony?

Answer 1

As it is illegal to test real witnesses as it may bias their testimony. And so they can focus on one factors such as weapon presence or leading question.

Question 2

What are the 3 steps used in a laboratory experiment in testing EWT?

Answer 2

1. Gathering participants to take part in a study
2. Showing them a film or a photograph of an incident or a potential suspect
3. Asking them to recall what they saw

Question 3

What are strengths of a laboratory experiment?

Answer 3

1. Use standardised procedure- so easier to replicate and allow for precise control of extraneous variables.
2. Allow a cause and effect to be established.

Question 4

What are the weaknesses of a laboratory experiment?

Answer 4

1. Produce unnatural behaviour that does not reflect real life so have low ecological validity.
2. Participants are paying more attention so not able to generalise to real life.

Question 5

Who is the example of a lab experiment?

Answer 5

Loftus and Palmer

Question 6

What are field experiments?

Answer 6

• They have both an IV and DV.
• Natural setting but the experiment is still artificially constructed but takes place where the study would naturally occur.
• Attempt to recreate the environment.

Question 7

Who is the example of field experiment in criminal psychology?

Answer 7

Valentine and Mesout

Question 8

Briefly describe Valentine and Mesout’s study

Answer 8

Real visitors to the London dungeon. As within natural setting of the dungeon but the visitors would not normally be asked to complete questionnaires on their experience or asked to identify individuals that saw within the dungeons.

Question 9

Give 2 strengths of a field study

Answer 9

1. Ecological validity- More naturalistic setting so less demand characteristics
2. Higher level of control than case study so higher reliability.

Question 10

Give 2 weaknesses of a field study

Answer 10

1. Experience more distress than in a laboratory experiment as they are more likely to believe what they are seeing as real.
2. Difficult to control all extraneous variable i.e. other participants so lower reliability.

Question 11

What is a case study?

Answer 11

• In depth investigations of a single person, group or event.
• Usually involves conducting interviews with an individual.
• Use IVs and DVs with other methodologies.
  
  • Gathers more detailed information normally of qualitative nature.

Question 12

Give 2 strengths of case studies?

Answer 12

1. Ecological validity
2. Lots of different types of data giving higher validity.

Question 13

Give 2 weaknesses of Case studies

Answer 13

1. Low test retest reliability
2. Low control and no standardised procedure
3. Attrition means less representative sample.

Question 14

Briefly describe Yuille and Cutshall’s case study

Answer 14

1. 13ppts involved in a Canadian shooting 21 originally but only 13 took part.
2. Interviewed initally wiht police then 4-5 months later with researchers.
3. Produced accurate accounts despite 2 leading questions. eg ‘the’ vs ‘a’ broken headlight.
4. Highly anxious at the time but still accurate.