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
What is a confidence interval
How far it is thought that answers might be reliable/valid e.g. A researcher might give a +/- 3 on each true score
What is confidence level
Percentage of sample that is likely to represent the population
Define what a longitudinal study is
People are studied and restudied over a period of time
What is a cross-sectional study
Takes a moment in time and compares different groups of that time
- only used to test the participants once
- tend to be different age groups
Evaluation of longitudinal study
STRENGTHS:
- follow participants for a long period of time and so participant variables are controlled
- when comparing data, similarities and difference s can be taken from the same person
WEAKNESSES:
- some participants may drop out because they no longer wish to continue which will effect the findings
- can be expensive
- time consuming
- researchers may change
- difficult to replicate and so can’t check reliability
Evaluation of cross-sectional study
STRENGTHS:
- don’t take as long to carry out so are quicker, cheaper and easier
- study is manageable and results can be analysed quicker
- easier to find participants as they prefer to take part for a short amount of time
- more ethical
- scientific if they have good controls
WEAKNESSES:
- only take place once so doesn’t collect as rich data as longitudinal does
- if matched pairs or independent groups design is used, the participants may be different so data is less focused and less detailed
- cannot find trends in data collected or find out what would happen at a later date if the study was repeated
- they are snapshots of situations and there is no opportunity to follow up on the findings
What methods are used in general scientific case studies?
- a way of studying an individual or group in depth and detail
- uses mainly qualitative but some quantitive too
- triangulation: multiple methods used to collect data e.g. Observation, interviews
- analysis through generating themes, categories, cross case analysis and comparing qualitative and quantitative data
Evaluation of case studies as a research method
STRENGTHS:
- data is valid because it’s in depth, detailed and focused on real experiences in a real life situation
- has ecological validity because it take so,ace in a natural setting with no unnatural tasks performed
- gathers rich, detailed qualitative info in context and with concern for people
- if cross case analysis occurred themes could be found more easily
- qualitative data can reinforce quantitative data collected in the same study which makes in more reliable
WEAKNESSES:
- difficult to generalise results because the indepth research is specific and unique to an individual or small group
- not easily shown to be reliable because it isn’t easy to repeat the results or case studies
- data may be subjective as qualitative data can be interpreted in different ways depending on the desired outcome
- presence of researcher may change the behaviour of a participant which causes a lack of validity
Description of Freuds case studies
- study if an individual
- in depth, rich data
- qualitative data
- uses different techniques e.g. Slip of the tongue, freak analysis and free association
Evaluation of Freuds case study
STRENGTHS:
- uses different methods to uncover unconscious wishes which are impossible to access by conventional means
- acts as research method as well as therapy
- data is qualitative, indepth and detailed so individuals differences can be focused on
- data are valid because they come directly for the individuals involved
WEAKNESSES:
-involves subjective interpretation by the researcher so it isn’t scientific and different researchers will come to different conclusions
- cannot be replicated to test reliability because it focuses on the unique unconscious desires of an individual and the analysis carried out by one therapist
- Un-generalisable as it is specific to one individual
- there were failings e.g. In free association, no matter how hard patients tried to allow a stream of conscious thoughts out, they couldn’t because their unconscious blocked them
