Research Methods

Question 1

What are the four experimental methods and what do they have in common?

Answer 1

1)Laboratory experiment
2)Field experiment
3)Natural experiment
4)Quasi experiment
They all have one thing in common : they are attempting to find a cause and effect relationship between IV and DV, and to measure the extent of this effect.

Question 2

Outline and Evaluate Laboratory Experiments?

Answer 2

They are conducted under specified controlled conditions in which the researcher manipulates the IV to measure the effect on the DV.
Conditions are heavily controlled in order to minimise the effect of extraneous variables.
Participants are aware that they are taking part in an experiment due to the artificial setting.
EVALUATION:
A strength is that Lab experiments have high control of extraneous variables which allows the researcher prevent the extranouse variables from effecting the DV and therefore develop a clear cause and effect relationship between the IV and the DV.
A Limitation is that they lack external validity. Th artificial setting means that the study lacks ecological validity. This means the findings cannot be generalised to the real world because things wouldnt be like this in the real world.
They could also display demand charateristics as they know they are part of an experiment.

Question 3

MISSING SOME EXPERIMENTS.

Question 4

Define the Quasi Experiment.

Answer 4

The IV is a difference between people such as gender, age or personality trait.
Researcher often examines the effect of the IV on the DV.
They can be conducted in a natural and laboratory setting (under controlled conditions for LS).

Question 5

Outline and Evaluate the Quasi Experiment.

Answer 5

The IV is a difference between people such as gender, age or personality trait.
Researcher often examines the effect of the IV on the DV.
They can be conducted in a natural and laboratory setting (under controlled conditions for LS).

Question 6

Observational Techniques
Define Covert Observations

Answer 6

Also known as ‘undisclosed’.
Participant is unaware they are being observed.
E.g. through a one-way mirror or if the researcher joins as a participant.

Question 7

Outline and Evaluate Covert Observations.

Question 8

Define Overt Observation.

Answer 8

Observations that are ‘open’ and the participants know they are being observed.
E.g. filming publicly or joining a class and informing the students that you are conducting an observation.

Question 9

Outline and Evaluate Overt Observations.

Question 10

Define Participant Observations.

Answer 10

When the person conducting the observation also takes part in the activity and it can be either COVERT (group member quietly observing) or OVERT (members being recorded with a camera with them knowing they are being observed.)

Question 11

Outline and Evaluate Participant Observations.

Question 12

Define Non-Participant Observations.

Answer 12

The person conducting the observation does not participate.
This is common in educational settings such as teacher evaluations.

Question 13

Define Naturalistic Observations.

Question 13

Outline and Evaluate Non-Participant Observations.

Question 14

Outline and Evaluate Naturalistic Observations.