Data Collection Methods & Research Flashcards
Name 5 key data collection methods
(Naturalistic) Observation, Survey/Interview, Standardized Testing, Experience Sampling Method, Case Studies
What is naturalistic observation?
Observation of behaviour in real-world settings where researchers have no control over the events
What is the danger of survey/interview data collection?
People may answer questions the way they think you want them answered, rather than being honest
What is a benefit of standardized testing?
It allows researchers to compare individual performances
What is a downside of standardized testing?
Personality and intelligence are always in flux, making ‘capturing’ a person difficult
What is the experience sampling method (ESM)?
Researchers give subjects pagers and ‘beep’ them at random times. Subjects then self-report on whatever data is being researched.
What are case studies good for?
Individual, dramatic portrayals of a given condition
Name the two main kinds of research
Descriptive and Correlational
What is descriptive research?
Research where one observes, records, and reports
What is correlational research?
Research that observes and describes the strength of the relationship between 2+ events or characteristics
How is correlational research expressed?
Via the correlation coefficient
Name the three next-most-common kinds of research
Experimental, Cross-sectional, and Longitudinal
What is an independent variable?
The factor that is manipulated in an experiment
What is a dependent variable?
The factor that is being measured in an experiment
What is cross-sectional research?
Research that studies multiple ages of participants at once
