Research Designs And Ethics

Question 1

What are different research designs for quantitative research?

Answer 1

Experiments

Questionnaire surveys

Question 2

What are different research designs for qualitative research?

Answer 2

Interviews

Observational methods

Question 3

What affects the coherence between research approach and design?

Answer 3

Choice of scientific approach
Research question
Research design
Way you analyse your data

Question 4

What is the independent variable?

Answer 4

The thing we change or manipulate in our experiment

Question 5

What is the dependent measure?

Answer 5

The thing we measure

Question 6

What are the aims of experimental designs?

Answer 6

To isolate cause and effect

Eliminate alternative explanations for observed relationships

Question 7

What is the method for experimental designs?

Answer 7

Manipulation of independent variable (IV) to observe effect on the dependent variable (DV) while controlling for extraneous and confounding variables e,g. Randomisation

Question 8

What are the different types of experimental designs?

Answer 8

True experiment

Quasi experiment

Question 9

What is a cross sectional correlational study?

Answer 9

If all variables are measured at one point in time

Question 10

What is a prospective or longitudinal correlational design?

Answer 10

If variables are measured at more than one point in time

Question 11

What are the differences between experimental study designs and correlational study designs?

Answer 11

Experimental: manipulate variables to enable researchers to identify cause and effect relationships
Correlational: measure but do not manipulate variables and cannot identify cause and effect relationships

Question 12

What are some qualities of interview-based research designs?

Answer 12

Can be individual or group interview

Vary in extend to which interviews are structured/non-structured (most are semi structured)

Importance of building rapport

Question 13

What are some qualities of observational research designs?

Answer 13

Primarily rely on observation in relatively unconstrained, natural setting

Can be; disclosed/undisclosed, structured/unstructured, controlled/naturalistic observations

Question 14

What are strengths of experimental designs?

Answer 14

Can test for causal relationships

Identifies pathways of influence

Question 15

What are limitations of experimental designs?

Answer 15

Problems with artificial nature of experimental environment

Issues of external generalisability

Question 16

What are some problems with experimental designs?

Answer 16

Order effects
Non-equivalent stimuli
Issues with matching
Non-equivalent groups
Demand characteristics

Question 17

What is a strength of research designs?

Answer 17

Can generate rich and detailed data

Question 18

What are limitations of research designs?

Answer 18

Issues of extrapolation beyond local setting

Generalisability

Question 19

What are some problems/challenges of research designs?

Answer 19

Building rapport
Language barriers/translation
Impact of interpersonal variables (age, gender, ethnicity) in interviews
Listening skills
Neutrality
Confidence in anonymity

Question 20

What are some ethical considerations in human research?

Answer 20

Informed consent and right to withdraw 
Mental and physical stress and discomfort 
Deception and debriefing 
Confidentiality 
Anonymity