Forms of data collection methods & Triangulation

Question 1

What are some main measurement options?

Answer 1

Convenient, easy to administer but prone to biases
- self-report measures
- interviewes

More expensive, time consuming, but less bias
- behavioral measures
- physiological measures

Question 2

Self report survey method

Answer 2

• mail, personal interviews, telephone, internet
• for correlational methods

=> correlation is not causation
=> collect info abt no. of variables, identify the correlations bet. them

Question 3

What does self-report rely on?

Answer 3

• sample
• sampling (method)
• questionnaires (demographics)
• preferences or attitudes (self-report scales)
• reliability / validity of self-report measures

*Note: the quality in self-report is very important

Question 4

Scientific observation

Answer 4

• under precisely defined conditions
• systematic and objective manner (manuals, coder trainings)
• record keeping
• rely on observing samples of ppl’s behaviors

Question 5

Naturalistic vs artificial observation

Answer 5

N: not instrusive
+ apply to ecological validity
- decreases internal validity

A: exert control
+ intl validity causal true association
- decrease eco. validity

Question 6

Inter-rater reliability

Answer 6

• multiple independent observers
• evaluate degree of agreement among observers
• assign some value which increases the confidence / reliablity

Question 7

Observer bias

Answer 7

• when researchers’ biases determine which behaviors they choose to observe
• expectancy effects
• may be reduced by using “blind or double blinds” study

Question 8

Standardized experimental testing situation

Answer 8

• designed to elicit behaviors that indicate mental processes / psychological characteristics
  Eg the marshmallow test
  + designed to elicit behavior difficult to observe in everyday life
  + control context
  + eliminate extraneous variables

Question 9

Physiological data

Answer 9

• provide info on level of arousal, reactivity to various stimuli, speed takes in new info
• sensors placed on dif parts of person’s body
• brain waves and neural activities
  => EEG, fMRI, BIOPAC

Question 10

Triangulation in research

Answer 10

• don’t rely on one method
• use multiple methods to minimize the inherent weaknesses of each method
• increases the credibility and validity of research findings
  => more holistic perspective

Question 11

Types of triangulation
D_ta
In_estigator
Th_ory
M_thod

Answer 11

Data: collect data from different samples, places or times => increases generalizability to other situations

Investigator: use of several researchers => reduce risk of observer bias and other experimenter biases (a form of counterbalancing)

Theory: use several theoretical schemes to understand / reconcile contradictions in data

Method: avoid flaws and bias that come with single method