Research Methods Flashcards
define experimental methods and types
manipulation of IV to have an effect on the DV which is measured
natural
field
laboratory
Quasi
hypothesis
directional - states direction/relationship
- IV operationalized
-DV operationalized
-Direction
eg: particiapnts who attened a revision session will have a highre test score than those who dont attend a session
a hypothesis should be non directional if there
* no previous research
* inconsistent findings
Define a Quasi experiment
An experiment where the IV has not been determined by the researcher instead it naturally exists
* gender
* age
* height
A memory task with a group of clinically depressed participants compared to a control group of non-depressed participants
evaluation of Quasi experiments
**strenght: **
controlled conditions = replicable + high internal validity
**Weaknesses: **
cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions so there may be cofounding variables = harder to conclude cause and effect
define a natural experiment
IV is not manipulated by the experimenter and is naturally occuring
* reaction to earthquakes
* Rutters adoption study - adopt at 6 months or not
evaluation of natural experiment
strenght:
* high external validity as are invesitgating real life issues
* provides opportunity for research that would else be impossible- due to ethics eg
Weaknesses:
* naturally occuring events may be rare so may not be replicable = hard to generalise findings
define a field experiment
conducted in a natural setting where variables are manipualted and controlled
* Bickman
* classroom where new learning method is tested
evaluation of field experiement
strenght
* naturalistic = high ecological validity and applicable to real life
* controlled IV
weakness
* ethical consideration - invasion of privacy and likely to informed consent
* loss of control over extraneous variables = not wholely replicable
define laboratory experiment
takes place in environment where variables are highly controlled
evaluation of laboratory experiment
strenght:
* high degree of control of all variables = method is replicable
weakness:
* experimenter bias - particiapnts can be infleucned by experimenters expectations
* low ecological valditiy- situation if artificial so not highyl genralisable
observation techniques
define a overt + evaluation
participants are being watched and behaviour is being recorded and know they are being watched
* ethically acceptable - can give informed consent
* demand characteristics - more likely to unantural behaviours as participants knwo they are being watched = reduced validity
observation technqiues
define covert + evaluate
participants are unaware that they are being watched and behaviour is recorded
* natural behaviour is recorded = high internal valdiity due to less demand characterisitscs
* ethical issues - no informed consent and invasion of privacy
define naturalistic observation and evaluate
watching and recording behaviour is setting where it normally takes place
* high ecological valdiity
* high external validity - as it a natural environemnet
* BUT low ecological validity if participants are aware they are being watched
* replication can be difficult
* uncontrolled and cofoudnign variables are present
define controlled observation and evaluate
watching and recording behaviour in a structured environement
* researcher is able to focus on particular aspect of behaviour
* there is more contorl over extraneous and cofounding variables
* easy replication
- more likely to observe unatural behaviour as takes place in an unatural environemnt
- low mundane realism and low ecological validty
- demadn characteristic
define participant observation and evaluation
the researcher who is observing is part of the participant group
* can be more insightful and increase valdity
* researcher may lose objectivitity as may indeifity with the participants too strongly
* participant behaviour may change if they figure out they are being observed
