Issues and debates: practical issues (learning)

Question 1

INTRO

Practical issues

Answer 1

Practical issues include trying to control research to ensure replicability and increase reliability. Researchers often have to balance practical questions such as what design is appropriate with cost and time constraints. Practical issues can include sampling participants, and choosing which research method is most appropriate to investigate a topic, balancing realism with control.

Question 2

A01 & A03 (are)

Answer 2

A01
Awareness of observation can cause participants to change behaviour, affecting validity (social desirability/demand characteristics).

A03
Becker et al:
- Studied TV’s influence on eating behaviour in Fijian girls.
- Participants may have altered responses due to the sensitive nature of body image, reducing data accuracy.

Question 3

A01 & A03 (aren’t)

Answer 3

A01
- Structured, covert observations reduce participant awareness and increase control over extraneous variables, improving reliability.

A03
Bandura’s Bobo Doll study:
- Used covert observation with a one-way mirror, preventing children from knowing they were observed and allowing for consistent, replicable findings.

Question 4

judgment

Answer 4

Overall, there are no practical issues in learning psychology as a behaviour is mostly observed.