Research Methods Flashcards
what are 3 facts about case studies?
- non experimental
- cannot establish cause and effect
- confounding variables
define case study.
A case study involves the detailed study of a single individual or a small group of people.
What does qualitative data provide?
A rich and detailed insight.
What is triangulisation?
The use of multiple research methods.
As a strength what level of validity do case studies have ?
High validity
A strength of case studies to do with ethics.
They allow researchers to study things that they couldn’t normally ethically
A limitation of case studies to do with the researcher?
Researcher bias
A limitation of case studies to do with control/ cause and effect?
- cannot establish cause and effect
- lack of control
Define longitudinal study.
Studies following a group or individual over an extended period of time
Strength and weakness of a longitudinal study?
+ allow to look at change over time
- participants may drop out which can lead to small smaple sizes.
What is observational research?
A researcher will simply observe behaviour, and look for patterns etc.
What is naturalistic observation?
- Observing behaviour in natural setting
- no attempt to influence the situation
- used when unethical to do a lab study
Strength and weakness of naturalistic observation ?
+ high levels of ecological validity
+ participants are less likely to be affected by demand characteristics
- little control of extraneous variables
- can not replicate
What is controlled observation ?
Observation taking place in a controlled setting e.g. behind a one way mirror.
Name a strength and a weakness of controlled observation?
+ less risk of EVs effecting behaviour
-the setting is artificial low ecological validity
What is structured observation?
The observer creates a behaviour checklist in order to code the behaviour they are observing.
What data is received from structured observation?
Quantitive data
What are behavioural categories?
The behaviours they have set to record and observe. E.g. if observing anger a punch or a kick.
What should the behavioural categories be?
- observable
- no need for inference to be made
- covers all components of behaviour
- mutually exclusive / don’t over lap with one another
What is event sampling?
Counting each time you observe a particular behaviour.
A strength and limitation of event sampling.
+Useful when the target behaviour or event happens infrequently, could be missed in time sampling.
- if the event is too complex the observer may overlook important details.
What is time sampling ?
Recording behaviour at timed intervals.
A strength and weakness of time sampling.
+ the observer has time to record what they see
- some behaviours will be missed outside the intervals - observations may not be representative
Strengths and weakness of structured observation?
+ allows quantifiable data to be collected
+ allows for more than one observer which can increase reliability
- behavioural categories can be restrictive and does not explain what is happening.
What is instructed observation?
Observers note down all behaviours they can see in qualitative over a period of time. No checklist used.
Strengths and weaknesses of unstructured observations?
+ they can generate in-depth , rich data
+ not limited to prior theoretically expectations
- more subjective less comparable
What does significance mean?
That we are are confident the IV effects the DV
