P3 - Research Methods Flashcards
What are the qualitative methods
Case study, naturalistic observations, interviews (unstructured, semi-structured, focus groups)
What are the quantitative methods
Experiments, field experiments, quasi experiments, natural experiments, correlation al research, surveys
What’s the characteristics of a lab study
- standardised procedure
- operationalise variables
- highly controlled variables
- participants are randomly allocated to IV group
- manipulate IV to measure DV
- artificial setting
What are the characteristics of a field experiment
- natural everyday setting
- standardised procedure
- operationalise variables
- manipulate IV to measure DV
- controlled conditions
- participants are often randomly allocated to each IV group
What is a natural experiment?
- usually conducted in everyday environments
- IV occurs naturally in everyday life
- experimenter cannot manipulate IV so DV is simply measured
- groups are pre set
- IV occurs naturally without researcher intervention
What is a quasi experiment?
- participants are not randomly assigned
- happens when researchers are interested in variables that cannot be randomly assigned
- IV is typically an innate characteristic such as age or gender
What is correlational research
- looks for relationship between two covariables
- does not manipulate variables
- positive, negative or no correlation
- results can be plot on a graph
- if you are measuring relationship between two people on a specific variable, you can calculate a concordance rate
What are surveys/questionnaires?
- series of questions to gather information from respondents
- written interview
- can be carried out face to face, telephone, computer or post
- closed ended questions gather quantitative data
- open ended questions gather qualitive data
What are naturalistic observations
Covert
- observing participants
- ‘under cover’
- researchers identity is kept hidden
- purpose of the study is hidden from group
Overt
- observing participants
- participants know they are being watched
Participant
- observing participants
- become part of the group
Non-participant
- observing participants
- researcher is not a part of the group
General
- natural environment - measuring natural and spontaneous behaviour
- can record data by tallying u- behaviours or filming or writing down what you see
What are unstructured interviews
- questions are not prearranged
- open ended questions are asked
- questions are asked at any point
What are semi structured interviews
- set of questions
- interview guide which is planned before
- interview covers open ended questions as well
What is a focus group
- a group of people
- researcher takes a back seat and moderates, and when the convo ends, they introduce a new idea
- held in a non-threatening environment
- allows participants to interact and influence each other
what is a case study?
- an indepth investigation of a single person, group, event or community
- method triangulation can be used to provide rich and detailed information
- information is biographical and relates to past events, as well currently occuring events `
what is opportunity/convenience sampling?
- sample is gathered from whatever population happens to be available and the population’s relevant characteristics
- researcher simply asks people of a suitable age, gender and background
- typically withdrawn from target populations
what is random sampling?
- gives every member of a target population an equal chance of being selected
- participants are selected through random means such as pulling names in a hat, random number generator etc
what is purposive sampling?
- participants are chosen because they possess characteristics relevant to the research
- seeks a sample that fits the specific needs of a research question
- may be the only option when a target population is rare, small or difficult to locate
what is snowball sampling?
- participants who are already in a study, help the researcher recruit more participants
- participants in the study are asked to recommend other people
- typically used when target population is rare, hidden or difficult to identify
what is volunteer sampling?
- selected by participants themselves
- recruited either online, newspaper ads, show of hands
- typically used when research may involve moderate exertion, strain or sensitive
why would you use a lab study? +/-
why is this used?
- measuring something that is hard to measure
- may be unethical to do a field experiment or naturalistic
- control specific variables
+ can measure cause and effect
+ easy to replicate as its standardised and operationalised
why would you use a field experiment? +/-
why would you use this?
- to get a good insight into natural behaviour but still controlling some variables
+high ecological validity
+ less demand characteristics
why would you use a natural experiment? +/-
why would you use this?
- when the exposure of interest cannot be practically or ethically assigned to research subjects
- situations like pre and post uni
+ high ecological validity
+ measures naturally occurring variables
why would you use a quasi experiment? +/-
why would you use this?
- naturally occuring variables that would be unethical or impossible to manipulate
+ data is more naturalistic and allows to investigate naturally occuring variables
+ high in ecological validity
+ less researcher bias