Research Methods

Question 1

Cross cultural research

Answer 1

• Ao1- looks at how culture factors influence human behaviours - psychologists use factors to gain data from diff cultures -> ie individualism vs collectivism .
•etic approach - how cultures are similar
• Emic approach - how cultures are different

+rich insight , avoid ethnocentrism , can show how disorders are present in every culture ICD , how different countries experience disorders

• can be prone to ethnocentrism due to a lot of research being conducted by western researchers , diff cultures can be seen as “different” and skew results (ie . DSM) , ignores individual diff only focuses on culture , can be costly and time consuming

Question 2

Meta analysis

Answer 2

•ao1- looks at multiple studies focused on one area to find trends in date - compiled statistics from studies to draw conclusions
+greater statistical power as more generalisable -> increases validity of general theories and ideas ,higher validity through multiple studies highlighting trends in data , more reliable (interrater reliability , less time consuming
- can be difficult and time consuming to find all studies , requires complex statistical skills and techniques , prone to bias as researcher chooses what’s relevant , cannot be certain of the validity of the study

Question 3

Primary and secondary data

Answer 3

Primary data - data that is collected by a researcher from first hand sources using methods like surveys interviews or experiments

Secondary data - data gathered from studies , surveys or experiments that have been run by other people or for other research

Question 4

Longitudinal research

Answer 4

• following a person or group of people for a long amount of time (eg . Henry molaisson)

+participant variables don’t affect data collected , studies are best way to spot ting developmental trends as they repeat tests at regular intervals and compare findings

• certain participants from other group may with to move away or no longer participate -> disrupts study , withdrawal of ppts means remaining ppts share characteristics -> findings are biased , expensive , time consuming

Question 5

Cross sectional research

Answer 5

• looking at different points in time/age groups in a particular situation •always makes assumption younger group will turn into older group

+ cheaper , quick , practical , ppts easily obtained as there is less pressure , less ethical considerations

• less rich data as there is individual participant variables , harder to analyse and identify developmental trends in cross sectional studies

Question 6

Hcpc - health and care professions council

Answer 6

•set up by government to regulate and maintain standards for workers in health care related professions

•Standards of efficiency -
-Act in best interest of service user
-Respect confidentiality
-Manage desks by taking reasonable steps to reduce risk of harm
-Being open when things go wrong
-Being honest and trustworthy
-keeping records of work

Question 7

Case studies

Answer 7

ao1
• an in depth study on one person, group or event.
• used to study people or situations that cannot be studied through normal methods ie. Experiment
• usually longitudinal
•usually use a mix of methods like questionnnaires and biological measures ie brain scanning to collect quantitive data alone with qualitative data like interviews
ao3
+
•provides rich in depth data , suggests directions for further research
• allows investigations that might be difficult or unethical to do
•can be used to strengthen theories
-
• problem generalising results to wider population
•loss of detachment and objectivity
• difficult to replicate and very time consuming
• may be unethical in certain situations

Question 8

Interviews

Answer 8

ao1
• unstructured interviewed - conversation with a purpose between researcher and participant (can create rich data as very free and open)
• semi structured interviews - middle ground that gives skeleton to interview but will allow participant and researcher to explore different ideas (most common)
• structured interviews - useful for keeping interviews precise , removing ethical issues as participant knows what they will talk about
data is usually interpreted though thematic anaylsis
ao3
+
• unstructured gathers rich qualitative data as issues can be explored and the respondent is able to use their own words and express their ideas clearly without limitation
• data tends to be valid as respondents use their own words and interviewers can obtain respondent validation ( classification on statements and answers and meanings of) -> reduces bias
•can be recorded and analysed by other researchers ( interrater reliability)
-
•leading question and other forms of bias may be present ( interviewer bias)
•subjectivity involved in analysis as themes and categories have to fit into researcher analysis
• very time consuming to analyse and transcribe
• some people may exaggerate stories and symptoms and reduce validity
• people may be subject to demand characteristics

Question 9

Interviews case study

Answer 9

Vallentine et al - semi structured interviews , interviews analysed by identifying themes and conducting content analysis -> repeated analysis for interrater reliability -> data characterised into sections