Data Collection Techniques Flashcards
1
Q
Definition of experimental designs?
A
- IV manipulated by researcher and dependent
- DV are recorded
- causal relationships clear
- can be laboratory or field-based
2
Q
Definition of correlational designs?
A
- all variables are measured
- strength of associations between variables is assessed
- may be possible to establish causation through theoretical or other considerations
3
Q
What are Laboratory experiments?
A
- carried out in a laboratory
- researcher has greatest control over environment and other factors
- advantages of being highly controlled so extraneous/confounding variables are excluded and it’s easier to replicate
- disadvantages of being artificial setting so ecological validity may be a concern and demand characteristics may influence behaviour
4
Q
What are Field experiments?
A
- carried out in everyday environment but researcher manipulates variables of interest
- advantages of the behaviour reflecting real responses so high ecological validity and demand characteristics are less likely to affect
- disadvantages of having less control so extraneous/confounding variables making replication difficult so may affect reliability
5
Q
What are natural experiments?
A
- carried out in everyday environment but researcher cannot manipulate variables of interest as they naturally occur
- advantages of high ecological validity, demand characteristics unlikely to affect participants, can be used when ethical considerations prevent IV manipulation
- disadvantages of tending to be costly, no control over extraneous/confounding variables, reliability may be an issue
6
Q
What are correlational designs?
A
- variables are measured and the strength of associations between them is examined
- naturalistic observation is often used
7
Q
What are the methods of data collection?
A
- observational methods
- case studies
- surveys
- interviews
- experiments
- new technologies
8
Q
What are the features and types of observational studies?
A
- behaviour is observed within the setting it naturally occurs in
- can be overt or covert
- controlled
- naturalistic
- participant
9
Q
What’s a controlled observation?
A
- usually in lab conditions so has control
- behaviour usually systematically classified and coded into categories (using timed-observation schedule)
- behaviour may be coded by more than 1 researcher and checked for inter-rater reliability
- strengths: easy to replicate, data quick to analyse, relatively quick to conduct so large samples possible
- limitations: demand characteristics may occur and limit validity
10
Q
What’s a naturalistic observation?
A
- data recorded using variety of methods
- coding may involve numbers/scale
- strengths: increased ecological validity, used to inform further research
- limitations: small scale so not representative, difficult to replicate, substantial training needed, may not establish cause and effect
11
Q
What’s a participant observation?
A
- variation on naturalistic observation where researcher becomes participant of group under investigation
- strengths: increased ecological validity, used to inform further research
- limitations: challenges with recording data, loss of objectivity
12
Q
What are the 3 main sampling methods for recording data?
A
- event sampling (identified in advance, frequency and other characteristics of event are recorded, all other behaviours ignored)
- time sampling (identified in advance, observations within specific period and set sampling schedule)
- instantaneous sampling (observations made at specific time-point, all before or after are ignored)
13
Q
What are case studies?
A
- individual/group/event investigated in detail
- multiple techniques may be employed
- often involves idiographic approach (observing what happens to participant and reconstructing case history)
- often used in clinical psychology/psychiatry
- strengths: rich descriptive information, indicates possible hypotheses for future, can study rare phenomena detail, gives opportunity to investigate factors that’d be unethical to manipulate
- limitations: can’t establish cause and effect, focus of study may not be typical/representative, can’t generalise, relies heavily on subjective interpretation of data, hard to replicate
14
Q
What is a survey?
A
- questions administered to sample drawn from larger population
- strengths: carefully selected, representative sample that provides accurate info, samples can be large
- limitations: unrepresentative sample may give misleading info, researcher biases/social desirability may distort results
- types include: in-person, telephone, mail-out, web-based
15
Q
What is an in-person survey?
A
- participants complete survey in physical presence
- strengths: control over environment so reduced/excluded biases, can provide implicit instructions, high quality data
- limitations: time-consuming, expensive, small samples
