Location of research

Question 1

Laboratory

Answer 1

• an environment which can be controlled by the researcher. In particular a researcher wishes to control extraneous variable and in an experiment, needs to manipulate the independent variables
• a room equipped to allow scientific research and measurement
• most scientific way to conduct research
• many researchers conduct observational research in a lab setting

Question 2

Advantages of laboratory research

Answer 2

• allows researchers to measure variables more easily — makes it easier to control confounding and extraneous variables
• easier for the researcher to replicate the research

Question 3

Disadvantages of laboratory research

Answer 3

• may cause participants to demonstrate artificial behaviour because of the environment they are in — makes them realise they are taking part in a piece of research
• some research cannot be conducted in a lab because of the nature of the behaviour being researched
• some research may take a long time to demonstrate

Question 4

Field

Answer 4

-where data is conducted outside a laboratory and in a more natural setting e.g shopping centres, trains, hospitals etc
- researcher goes to the participant

Question 5

Advantages of the field

Answer 5

• useful when wanting to minimise the artificial nature of the research — behave more naturally and are less likely to be aware of their participation in the research
• allows psychologists to examine behaviour in a larger range of contexts that are more difficult in a lab environment e.g how can nature increase happiness is easier to do in a park than a lab

Question 6

Disadvantages of field research

Answer 6

• more difficult to measure research variables which makes it more difficult to control for confounding or extraneous variables — a second researcher wants to replicate and they may not have the same findings because of the differences in settings
• difficult for researchers to utilise a full complement of equipment e.g brain scanning machines are not portable and are not easily used by field researchers

Question 7

Online

Answer 7

• researchers are able to access participants via the internet or on social networking tool
• usually questionnaires

Question 8

Advantages of online research

Answer 8

• can access participants on a larger scale and seek out a more diverse sample that may be less culturally biased
• cost effective as free, cheap software is used
• data analysis is quicker as participants have already transcribed their responses and analysis can be conducted

Question 9

Disadvantages of online research

Answer 9

• methods uses in online research tend to be limited with most being surveys or questionnaires
• ethical issues such as consent and protection from any risk of harm is more difficult to deal with — only asked to simply tick a box regarding terms and conditions so it is more difficult to ensure that they have actually consented
  -more difficult to appropriately debrief the participants if the need arises