Research Methods Flashcards
Lab Experiment
Experiment takes place in an controlled environment
Strengths of Lab Experiment
Increase the level of control, can determine cause and effect
Weaknesses of Lab Experiment
Reduce the level of ecological validity
True Experiment Definition
Control the variable under investigation, random allocation of participants to groups
Field Experiment Definition
Experiment takes place in a natural setting
Strength of Field Experiment
Increases the ecological validity
Weaknesses Field Experiment
Reduces the lack of control as environment is not manipulated, difficult to determine cause and effect
Quasi-Experiment Defintion
An experiment where the participants are not randomly allocated as the independent variable is a natural occurrence
Observational Research
Observation is method used to obtain data
Conduct case study
Case Study Requirements
10-20 ps - deep understanding of individual, rich data
- lacks generalization
Rare Characteristic - good explanation of behavior
- lacks generalizability
Naturalistic Observation Definition
Observe behavior in natural context - good validity & accuracy of information collected
- different to control, results in low reliability
Structured Observation
Researcher decides what behavior wanting to observe (behavior checklist) - generates quantitative Data
Unstructured Observation
Researcher records all behavior - generates qualitative and quantitative data
Non-Participants Observation
Watching everyday behavior as it happens, non-experiment method - observer bias
Participants Observer
Researcher joins in with a social situation to observe it without biasing the findings
Presence could make ps uneasy, and alter behavior if researcher doesn’t have authentic behavior
Unethical
Controlled Observation
Researcher has set up a situation, uses standard procedure
Not an experiment as no IV - Strange situations
Covert Observation
Participant unaware being observed - reduces demand characteristics
- ps act normal
- Unethical
Overt Observation
Participant unaware observed - more ethical
- leads to demand characteristics
Direct Observation
Observing behaviors as they happen
Indirect Observation
Watching events already collecting by others
Done though - video
- Films
- Adverts
Time Sampling
Observing act predetermining intervals over the course of observation
Provides time to record data
Allows longer periods of time
Event Sampling
Record every time an event happens over course of observation
Gives total frequencies for behavior
Can be very tiring for long observations
Samples
Group of individuals who take part in the study
Opportunity Sample
Need to provide the ‘where’ and the ‘when’
Quick & conventions
Biased by - when
- where