Qualitative and quantative data collection

Question 1

Case studies

Answer 1

An intensive, in-depth investigation of some behaviour or event of interest in an indivdiual, small group, or situation
- used when large number is not available (e.g. rare disorder)
Advantages
- Avoid artificiality
- Provide example of real-life experience
- Source of hypotheses for further research
Disadvantages
- Large amount of data; time consuming to analyse
- Focus on rare/unusual situations, cannot be generalised
- More susceptible to biased information, participants may not provide enough data (needs a lot), experimenter may leave out certain data, accentuate other

Question 2

Observational studies

Answer 2

Collection of data by carefully watching and recording behaviour as it occurs

naturalistic observation

• viewed by researcher in inconspicuous manner
• presence doesn’t influence behaviour observed
• can be done through non-participant of participant observation

non-participant observation
- researchers conceal presence

participant observation
- researcher is an active member of the group being observed
- e.g. gorrilla studies
Advantages
- No artificiality or demand charecteristics, due to observation of real-life, natural settings
- Enables researchers to gain more accurate information about typical behaviour both immediately and over time
- Allows us to study human behaviour that would be innapropriate or impractical to replicate in labaratory
- Does not require co-operation of participants
Disadvantages
- Privacy can be violated
- Difficult to determine causes of behaviour, as it is influences by factors outside researcher’s control
- Observer bias can occur (neglect certain behaviours, self-fulfilling prophecy); to counter this, two observers may be used (inter-rater reliability)

Question 3

Self-reports

Answer 3

The participant’s written or spoken response to questions, statements or isntructions presented by the researcher. All self-report data is subjective. Can differ in type of data, type of question and type of structure

Free response

• describe their thoughts in own words
• qualitative

Fixed response
- choose from number of fixed responses
- quantative
Disadvantages

Free response

• researcher may discover new, relevant variables
• allow for clarification, follow up questions

Fixed response

• easy to summarise
• describe numerically

Question 4

Questionnaires

Answer 4

Questionnaires

• written set of questions designed to draw out self-report info from people on a topic of research interest
• without supervision, own pace, in writing
• used for a large number

Questionnaires

• anonymous, so little experimenter effect
• easy to administer to large sample