Research Designs

Question 1

What is an experiment?

Answer 1

An independent variable is manipulated and a dependent variable is measured

Question 2

What is a between-participants experiment?

Answer 2

Participants are split into different conditions of the independent variable

Question 3

What is a within-participants experiment?

Answer 3

All participants take part in all conditions of the independent variable

Question 4

What is a quasi-experiment?

Answer 4

Similar to a true experiment, but lacks manipulation and random assignment to groups or conditions

Question 5

What is a correlational study?

Answer 5

A study that measures the nature and strength of the relationship between two co-variables

Question 6

What is an observational study?

Answer 6

A non-experimental approach where the researcher observes participants’ behaviour in their natural environment and collects information unobtrusively

Question 7

What is naturally occurring data?

Answer 7

A method of gathering qualitative data - it includes online data (such as social media posts and news articles) and traditional data (such as radio interviews and newspapers)

Question 8

What are interviews?

Answer 8

A conversation with a purpose that allows you to answer your research question -they occur one to one and can be structured, unstructured, or semi structured

Question 9

What are focus groups?

Answer 9

A group discussion that helps to shed light on your research topic and answer your research question - researchers are present as moderators
Again, can be structured, unstructured, or semi structured

Question 10

What are qualitative surveys?

Answer 10

A method of generating qualitative data where the focus is on questions that allow participants to provide rich detail in their own time - they are usually anonymous