Methodologies Flashcards
Research Methods
What are the 5 types of experiment?
- Lab
- Field
- Natural
- Quasi
- Online
What is a lab experiment?
- Conducted under highly controlled conditions
- Accurate measurements
- The researcher decides on exactly how the experiment is carried out.
What is a field experiment?
- Conducted in the everyday environment of the participant.
- Experimenter manipulates the IV.
What is a natural experiment?
- Researcher has no control over the IV
- Natural occuring event
What is a quasi experiment?
- IV is not manipulated by the researcher
- Participants cannot be allocated randomly to each condition
- Controlled setting
- False experiment
What is an online experiment?
- Conducted online
- Can assess participants through the internet or social networking
- Questionnaires
Strengths + Weaknesses of a lab experiment
STRENGTHS
- High control of variables
- Replicable
- Can establish C&E
WEAKNESSES
- Low ecological validity
- Investigator effects (DCs)
- Behaviour not always natural
Strengths + Weaknesses of a field experiment
STRENGTHS
- C&E can be established
- High ecological validity
- Reduction in DCs
WEAKNESSES
- Reduced control over extraneous variables
- Time consuming
- Difficult to replicate
Strengths + Weaknesses of a natural experiment
STRENGTHS
- High ecological validity
- Useful when impossible to replicate variables
WEAKNESSES
- Less control over variables
- Difficult to replicate
- Can’t clearly identify C&E
- Low likelihood of desired behaviour is rare
Strengths + Weaknesses of a quasi experiment
STRENGTHS
- Often carried out under controlled conditions
WEAKNESSES
- Cannot randomly allocate participants due to confounding variables
Strengths + Weaknesses of an online experiment
STRENGTHS
- Can access large numbers of people
- Cost effective
- Data analysis is quicker + easier
WEAKNESSES
- Tends to be limited
- Ethical issues (consent + data)
What is an observation?
- Non experimental method
- Can see what people do without asking
- Natural/controlled environment
- Can be used to assess the DV in experiments
What are the two main categories of the observation?
Unstructured
- records behaviour with
no fixed system
Structured
- fixed, structured/
standardised procedures
are used for replicability
Strengths and Weaknesses of an unstructured observation
STRENGTHS
- Rich in detail (qualitative data)
WEAKNESSES
- Risk of observer bias
- Harder to analyse data
Strengths and Weaknesses of a structured observation
STRENGTHS
- Quantitative data (easy to analyse)
WEAKNESSES
- Lacks detail
State the 6 types of observation
Naturalistic
Controlled
Covert
Overt
Participant
Non- participant
What is a naturalistic observation?
- Natural environment
- No control of setting
Strengths and Weaknesses of a naturalistic observation.
STRENGTHS
- High external validity
- Reduced DCs
WEAKNESSES
- No control of variables
- Difficult to replicate
- Difficult to establish C&E
What is a controlled observation?
- Controlled environment
- Manipulate variables to observe the effects and control extraneous variables
Strengths and Weaknesses of a controlled observation.
STRENGTHS
- High levels of control
- Easier to establish C&E
- Easier to replicate
WEAKNESSES
- Artificial environment
- Low ecological validity
- May not observe natural behaviour
What is a covert observation?
- Take place without the knowledge/awareness of participants e.g secret cameras/ two way mirrors
Strengths and Weaknesses of a covert observation.
STRENGTHS
- No DCs, more valid
WEAKNESSES
- Lack of informed consent
What is an overt observation?
- Participants know they are being observed and recorded
- Given informed consent
Strengths and Weaknesses of an overt observation.
STENGTHS
-No ethical issues
WEAKNESSES
- DCs
What is a participant observation?
- researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour is observed
Strengths and Weaknesses of a participant observation.
STRENGTHS
- Greater insight into lives, increased validity
WEAKNESSES
- May identify too strongly (observer bias)
What is a non-participant observation?
- Observed at a distance
- Impractical or impossible to take part with the group
Strengths and Weaknesses of a non participant observation.
STRENGTHS
- Greater objectivity
WEAKNESSES
- Loses insight
What is content analysis?
- Technique for studying people indirectly through communications
- Analysing content in a systematic way
- Can be done on any type of qualitative data
Strengths & Weaknesses of questionnaires.
STRENGTHS
- Cost effective/Time efficient
- Large amount of data can be collected
- Can be replicated
WEAKNESSES
- Social desirability bias
- Lacks objectivity
- Response bias
- Representative?
Strengths & Weaknesses of open questions.
STRENTHS
- Qualitative data -> rich in detail
WEAKNESSES
- Harder to analyse
- Time consuming for Ps
What is a closed question?
- Only allow certain responses
- Usually a fixed number of answers
- YES/NO, Multiple choice, Rating scales
- Quantitative data
Strengths & Weaknesses of closed questions.
STRENTHS
- Easy to analyse (Quantitative)
- Easier to compare answers to the Q
WEAKNESSES
- May lack detail + depth
Strengths & Weaknesses of interviews.
STRENTHS
- Can ask follow up Qs
- more in depth responses
- Can build rapport with the Ps for more personal info
WEAKNESSES
- Interviewer bias
- Qualitative data, harder to analyse
Strengths & Weaknesses of structured interviews.
STRENTHS
- Standardised
WEAKNESSES
- Comparability may be an issue due to differences in interviews (low validity)
Strengths & Weaknesses of semi-structured interviews
STRENTHS
- More detailed info can be gained
WEAKNESSES
- Skilled interviewer needed
- On the spot question developments may lack objectivity
- Expensive
- Time consuming
What are correlations?
- Researcher method used to analyse data
- Analyses the association link between two variables (co-variables)
What are co-variables?
Two variables measured in correlational analysis
What is a positive correlation?
As one co-variable increases the other increases.
What is a negative correlation?
As one co-variable increases the other decreases
What is a Zero correlation?
No relationship between variables
Describe the steps for an analysis and interpretation of correlation (1)
- Use a scatter graph
- Work out correlation co-efficient using a statistical test
- Test will produce a correlation co-efficient number which can be used on a table of significance
- Inferential test is done and the observed value is compared with the critical value.
Describe the steps for an analysis and interpretation of correlation (2)
- Can be represented as a correlation coefficient (between +1 & -1)
*+/- sign is direction, P/N - Number is the strength
e.g. -0.7 and +0.7 are the same strength but different directions
Strengths and weaknesses of a correlation?
STRENGTHS
- Investigate situations cannot be done experimentally
- Shows strength and direction
- Quick and economical
- Less time consuming
WEAKNESSES
- Says they are related but not how
- Cannot establish C&E
- 3rd variable problem
- Correlations can be misused/misinterpreted
What is a case study?
- In depth investigation
- Descriptive analysis of a person, group or event
- Qualitative data
Strengths and weaknesses of a case study?
STRENGTHS
- Rich qualitative data
- High ecological validity
- Researchers can study cases they couldn’t manipulate in an experiment
WEAKNESSES
- Researchers bias
- Difficult to generalise findings outside of the sample (low population validity)
What are CT (CAT) scans?
- Combined x-rays form 2D/3D images of brain area
- Before x-ray, radioactive dye is injected into the patient
- Series of x-ray beams passed through the head creating cross sectional images.
Strengths and weaknesses of a CT (CAT) scans?
STRENGTHS
- High quality images
- Reveal structures that are abnormal
WEAKNESSES
- Only provide structure
- Exposure to radiation
What are PET scans?
- Given radioactive glucose
- Most active brain areas = more glucose will appear
- Detectors in scanner highlight most active areas for an in depth image
Strengths and weaknesses of a PET scans?
STRENGTHS
- Chemical activity can be seen
- Useful for psychological research
WEAKNESSES
- Expensive
- Not as precise as scans (MRI)
- Radioactive dye needed
What are longitudinal studies?
- Over a long period of time
- Observe long-term effects of something on a behaviour
- Commonly assessed more than twice
Strengths and weaknesses of a longitudinal study?
STRENGTHS
- Participant variables are controlled
- Can easily sport developmental trends
WEAKNESSES
- High drop out rate
- Demand characteristics
What is a cross-sectional study?
- Comparing one group with another
- One group represents a section of society
Strengths and weaknesses of a cross-sectional study?
STRENGTHS
- Quick + cheap
- Easier to obtain participants
WEAKNESSES
- Difficult to determine why there are differences
- Harder to identify developmental trends
What are self report techniques?
Any method where a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings/ opinions/ behaviours/ experiences related to a topic.
e.g. questionnaire/ interview
What is quantitative data?
- Can be measured numerically
- Statistical analysis
Strengths and Weaknesses of quantitative data?
STRENGTHS
- Easy to analyse
- Easy to collect from a large group
WEAKNESSES
- Loses the human level of behaviour
- Offers a shallow view of behaviour
What is qualitative data?
- Detailed data
- Can be observed but not measured numerically
- Words, thoughts, feelings
Strengths and Weaknesses of qualitative data?
STRENGHTS
- More individualised ‘human’ view of behaviour
- In depth, detailed data
WEAKNESSES
- Difficult to analyse
- Data tends to come from a limited number + range of people.
What are primary sources?
- Information/data collected directly by the researcher
- Questionnaire/ interview/ experiment
Strengths and Weaknesses of primary sources?
STRENGTHS
- Researcher can control how the data is collected to be specific to the aim
WEAKNESSES
- Low validity due to social desirability/ DCs
What is a secondary source?
- Not been directly collected by the researcher
- Using content analysis/ existing data
Strengths and Weaknesses of secondary sources
STRENGTHS
- Data produced without ‘participant’ knowing the artefact is in the research
WEAKNESSES
- Cant control how the data is produced/collected
How are behavioural categories used to measure observed data?
- Make it clear (target behaviour)
- Breaks target behaviour into measurable + observable categories
Coding is turning qualitative data into quantitative.
How is this done?
1) Familiarise with material
2) Coding categories (list of themes)
3) Review qualitative data
4) Tally how many times categories occur within data
5) Analyse
How are coding systems used to measure observed data?
- Makes sure that there are not multiple categories from different observers as some may determine affection differently.
Strengths and Weaknesses of coding
STRENGTHS
- Quantitative data
- Reliability
WEAKNESSES
- Subjectivity
- Validity
What is thematic analysis?
- Summarising qualitative data
- Not converted into quantitative data
How is thematic analysis conducted?
1) Collect data and transcribe
2) Familiarise
3) Look for recurring themes
4) Provide examples to illustrate themes
