Lesson 2, 3 and 4

Question 1

Case studies

Answer 1

The purpose of a case study is to provide detailed analysis of an individual, establishment or real-life event.

Question 2

Strengths of case studies

Answer 2

• has detailed information about a situation and these unique insights can be overlooked in situations where there is only the manipulation of one variable.
• can be used in circumstances which would not be ethical to examine experimentally

Question 3

Weaknesses of case studies

Answer 3

• by only studying one individual it is very difficult to generalise any findings to the wider population since results are likely to be so unique.
• an issue particularly where qualitative methods are used is that the researcher’s own subjectivity can pose a problem. In the Little Hans study, Freud developed an entire theory based on what he observed and there was no scientific evidence to support his suggestions from the study.

Question 4

Test-retest reliability

Answer 4

The same person or group of people are asked to undertake the research measure, e.g. a questionnaire.

Question 5

Inter-observer reliability (inter-rated reliability)

Answer 5

Refers to the extent to which two or more observers are observing and recording behaviour in a consistent way.

Question 6

Internal validity

Answer 6

A measure of whether results obtained are solely affected by changes in the variable being manipulated in a cause and effect relationship.

Question 7

External validity

Answer 7

A measure of whether data can be generalised to other situations outside of the research environment.

Question 8

Ecological validity

Answer 8

A type of external validity and refers to the extent psychologists can apply their findings to other settings - predominantly to everyday life.

Question 9

Temporal validity

Answer 9

Form of external validity, refers to the extent to which research findings can be applied across time.

Question 10

Population validity

Answer 10

Form of external validity, refers to the extent to which the research can be applied to different groups of people apart from the group that were used in the study.