Research Methods

Question 1

Use of laboratory experiment?

Answer 1

Study cause and effect in an artificial, controlled setting in a scientific way.

Question 2

2 advantages of laboratory experiment:

Answer 2

• Controlled setting means extraneous variables are minimised
• Standardised procedures means experiment can be repeated

Question 3

1 disadvantage of laboratory experiment:

Answer 3

• Lacks ecological validity

Question 4

Use of field experiment:

Answer 4

Study cause and effect in the participants natural setting.

Question 5

1 advantage of field experiment:

Answer 5

• Ecologically valid

Question 6

1 disadvantage of field experiment:

Answer 6

• Less control so increased chance of extraneous variables

Question 7

Use of natural experiment:

Answer 7

Study cause and effect where the independent variable is naturally occurring.

Question 8

1 advantage of natural experiment:

Answer 8

• Can students variables that would be unethical to manipulate

Question 9

1 disadvantage of natural experiment:

Answer 9

• Cannot randomly allocate participants, so increased chance of extraneous variables

Question 10

Use of quasi experiment:

Answer 10

Study cause and effect where the independent variable is a difference between people that already exist.

Question 11

1 advantage of quasi experiment:

Answer 11

• Allows comparisons between types of people

Question 12

1 disadvantage of quasi experiment:

Answer 12

• Can’t randomly allocate participants, so there is an increased chance of extraneous variables.

Question 13

Use of studies using correlational analysis

Answer 13

Look for a relationship between two co-variables

Question 14

1 advantage of studies using correlational analysis:

Answer 14

• Study variables that would be unethical to manipulate

Question 15

1 disadvantage of studies using correlational analysis:

Answer 15

• Do not establish cause and effect (effect may be caused by another variable)

Question 16

1 advantage of using questionnaires :

Answer 16

• Can gather a large amount of data quickly

Question 17

1 disadvantage of using questionnaires:

Answer 17

• Not all data will be true (people can lie) , so results are invalid

Question 18

1 advantage of interviews:

Answer 18

• Provides detailed information/data.

Question 19

1 disadvantage of interviews:

Answer 19

• Can be impractical to conduct as they are time consuming.

Question 20

1 advantage of case studies:

Answer 20

• Provides detailed information/data

Question 21

1 disadvantage of case studies:

Answer 21

• Unable to generalise results from atypical individuals

Question 22

What are naturalistic observations?

Answer 22

Watching and recording participants behaviour in their natural setting.

Question 23

1 advantage of naturalistic observations:

Answer 23

• High ecological validity

Question 24

2 disadvantages of naturalistic observations:

Answer 24

• Lack of control means low reliability
• Lack of control means higher chance of extraneous variables

Question 25

What are controlled observations?

Answer 25

Watching and recording participants behaviour in a structured environment where variables are managed.

Question 26

1 advantage of controlled observations:

Answer 26

- More control over extraneous variables increases chance of replication.

Question 27

1 disadvantage of controlled observations:

Answer 27

- Lacks ecological validity

Question 28

What are covert observations?

Answer 28

Participants behaviour is watched an reordered without their knowledge or consent.

Question 29

1 advantage of covert observations:

Answer 29

- Data is more valid as participants do not know they are being observed.

Question 30

1 disadvantage of covert observations

Answer 30

- Unethical as participants do not know they are being observed

Question 31

What are overt observations?

Answer 31

Participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent:

Question 32

1 advantage of overt observations:

Answer 32

- Ethical

Question 33

1 disadvantage of overt observations:

Answer 33

- Participants behaviour may change as they are aware they are being watched, making results invalid.

Question 34

What are the three types of an experimental design?

Answer 34

- Independent measures - Repeated measures - Matched pairs

Question 35

How do independent measures designs work?

Answer 35

There are different participants in each condition.

Question 36

How do repeated measures designs work?

Answer 36

Participants take part in both conditions.

Question 37

How do matched participants designs work?

Answer 37

There are different participants in each conditions but they are matched on key variables

Question 38

1 advantage of independent measures design:

Answer 38

- No order effects

Question 39

1 disadvantage of independent measures design:

Answer 39

- Participant variables

Question 40

1 advantage of repeated measures design:

Answer 40

- No participant variables

Question 41

1 disadvantage of repeated measures design:

Answer 41

- Order effects

Question 42

1 advantage of matched participants design:

Answer 42

- No order effects

Question 43

1 disadvantage of matched participants design:

Answer 43

- Can be time consuming and difficult to find participants who match