Psychodynamic: Quantitative Vs Qualitative Flashcards
Define qualitative
Rich, detailed info e.g. A participants opinion, thoughts and ideas.
Helps to understand a participants meaning
Define quantitative
Numerically measured info about a person e.g. How many days they’ve spent in hospital
Define reliability
Whether the method or study produces the same results every time it is used e.g. If the memory test gave the same or similar results each time the person was tested
Define subjectivity
Analysis of results includes input from the researcher e.g.they interpret what a dream means - non scientific and a matter of opinion
Define validity
Whether the method or study measures what it sets out to measure e.g. If a memory test correctly identifies how many words a person can remember
Define objectivity
Where there is no bias affecting the results, it is scientifically sound. No opinion / input from the researchers
Describe and evaluate random sampling
Describe: everyone in the target population is available for selection
Evaluation: Strengths- -no bias as everyone gets a chance -no one is systematically excluded -it is clear to everyone how the sample is chosen
Weaknesses:
- difficult to ensure everyone from the target population is available
- cannot be certain the sample is representative of all group types
Describe and evaluate stratified sampling
Describe: make sure certain groups are represented in the sample
Evaluation:
Strengths-
-each group is likely to be presented
-efficient way of ensuring there are representatives from each group
Weaknesses:
- difficult to know how many of each group are needed to represent the target population accurately
- relies on the researchers knowing all the required groups
Describe and evaluate self selecting sampling
Describe: volunteers select themselves to participate in the study e.g. Milgram
Evaluate:
Strengths:
- ethically good because people volunteer and so want to be involved
- more likely to cooperate which means less social desirability and other biases
Weaknesses:
- only certain types of people may volunteer
- may take a long time to get enough volunteers
Describe and evaluate opportunity sampling
Describe:
Researchers take whoever they can find to participate
Evaluation:
Strengths:
-more ethical as researchers can judge if the participants are likely to be upset by the study or too busy to take part
-researcher has more control over who is chosen so should get a sample more quickly and efficiently
Weaknesses:
- only people who are available are used so may be self selected e.g. Unemployed people
- may not be representative of all groups and so biased
Evaluation of qualitative data
STRENGTHS:
- rich, more meaningful data
- gives opinions
- gives data that couldn’t be found inn any other way
- unique to that person
- first hand/primary data
- similar situations/people can be compared
WEAKNESSES:
- cannot be easily compared
- time consuming to gather = expensive
- can be interpreted different by different people
- cannot be applied to anyone but the person whose data it is
- could be biased by the way data is collected
- only a snapshot in time of the certain situation
Evaluation of quantitative data
STRENGTHS:
- more scientific and testable data
- can be easily repeated
- can be compared to others easily
- factual and can be verified
- little chance of bias
- can be gained from multiple resources
- statistics can be Carried out on it
WEAKNESSES:
- cannot give insight to personal feelings
- if repeated with another person you may get different results
- only a snapshot in time of the certain situation
Define target population
All the people the study is about- those who the findings will be applied to
Define representative
Including members of each type of person in that population- usually in correct proportion
Define sampling frame
Where you get the participants for your target population
