Research Methods Flashcards
What is a lab experiment?
- An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV
What is a field experiment?
An experiment that takes place in a natural setting
What are the strengths and limitations of a field experiment?
Strengths:
* Have higher mundane realism than lab exps as environment is more natural
* Field experiments may produce behaviour that is more valid & authentic
Limitatons:
* Loss of control of Cv’s and Ev’s
* Means cause and effect between IV & DV in field studies may be much more difficult to establish & precise replication is often not possible
What is a natural experiment?
An exp where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher had not been there
What are the strengths and limitations of a natural experiment?
Strengths:
* Provide opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical or ethical reasons
* Often have high external validity as involve study of real world issues & problems as they happen
(e.g. effect natural disasters have on stress levels)
Problems:
* Naturally occuring event may only happen very rarely, reducing opportunities for research.
* May also limit the scope for generalising findings to other similar situations
What are Quasi experiments?
- A study that is almost an experiment but lacks key ingredients- The IV has not been determined by anyone.
(not really an experiment)
What are the strengths and limitations of quasi experiments?
Strengths:
* Often carried out under controlled conditions and therefore share some thoughts of a lab experiment (e.g. replication)
Limitations:
* Cannot randomly allocate ppts to conditions and therefore may be confounding variables
What types of observation are there?
- Naturalistic and Controlled observations
- Covert and Overt observations
- Participant & Non-participant observations
What is a naturalisitic and controlled observation?
Watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur.
e.g. observing how senior management and employees would react in a factory- dragging them into a lab is not going to help better to study them in the factory
What are covert and overt observations?
- Covert observations-
Those in which the ppts are unaware they are the focus of the study & behaviour is observed seceretly (covertly) - Overt observations-
When ppts know their behaviour is being observed and have given their informed consent before hand
What are participant and non-participant observations?
Participant observations-
Researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching & recording
Non-Participant observations-
When researcher remains separate from those they are studying & records behaviour in a more objective manner.
What is the evaluation for all observations?
Have benefit of capturing impact what people actually do, which may be unexpected behaviour.
Obs methods are usefulas give special insight to behaviour
What is one limitation for observations?
Observer bias- Obersvers interpretation of a situation may be affected by their expectations
Can be reduced by using more than one observer
What is one strength and limitation for Naturalisitc and controlled observations?
Strength:
Naturalistic observations tend to have high external validity as findings can often be generalised to every day life
Limitation/contrast:
Controlled observations may produce findings that cannot be as readily applied to everyday life.
Confounding/extraenuous variables may be less of a factor so replication of the observation
What is one strength and limitation for participant & non-participant observations?
Strengths:
In ppt observations researcher can experience the situation as ppts do, giving them incresed insight into the lives of people bein studied. May increase external validity of findings
Non-ppt research allows researcher to maintain an objective psychological distance from their ppts so less danger for them to adopt a local life style
