Research Methods Flashcards
Content Analysis and Coding
Content Analysis:
Systematic research technique for analysing data such as transcripts for interviews, documents or texts
Data may be too large to analyse initially, so researcher create coding system of pre determined categories, can be applied to the context
Content analysis is a method used to analyse qualitative data. It allows a
researcher to take qualitative data and transform it into quantitative data.
Pilot study (small scale trial investigation to ensure do not overlap but are separate) are often used to test coding system to ensure don’t overlap but are separate
Coding:
Take form of counting number of times a word/phrase appears in a source, which would generate quantative data for the researcher to analyse
Thematic Analysis and Qualitative Data
Thematic analysis is a method for analysing qualitative data that involves identifying and reporting patterns within the material. The material might be a diary, TV advertisements, or interview transcripts
Thematic Analysis = Make transcript of interview, make coding units to initially analyse then review units to look for themes
Example of Thematic Analysis
For example, imagine a psychologist was interviewing violent offenders about their family and early childhood. The themes that emerge could be family violence, parental argument, alcohol misuse etc.
+ of content analysis
+ It is a reliable way to analyse qualitative data as the coding units are not open to interpretation and so are applied in the same way over time and with different researchers.
+ It is an easy technique to use and is not too time consuming.
+ It allows a statistical analysis to be conducted if required as there is usually
quantitative data as a result of the procedure.
- of content analysis
- Causality cannot be established as it merely describes the data.
- As it only describes the data it cannot extract any deeper meaning or explanation for the data patterns arising.
What are case studies?
Case studies involve the detailed investigation of a single individual or group or institution.
Case studies provide rich, detailed qualitative data compared to other research methods. Case studies usually involve several methods (observations, interviews, etc.) which allows researchers to check for consistency, reliability and validity.
Why are small sample sizes used in case studies?
This may be because the psychologist has only found one or two individuals who display this rare and/or fascinating behaviour
What kind of data can be collected from case studies?
Psychologists can collect qualitative data (for example from interviews and observations); and/or quantitative data such as questionnaires or experiments.
How long do case studies normally last?
Case studies can last weeks, months or years and so can be longitudinal. This means they are able to observe changes over time.
+ of case studies
+ Case studies create opportunities for a rich yield of data, and the depth of
analysis can in turn bring high levels of validity.
+ Studying abnormal psychology can give insight into how something works when
it is functioning correctly, such as brain damage on memory.
+ The detail collected on a single case may lead to interesting findings that conflict with current theories, and stimulate new paths for research.
- of case studies
- There is little control over a number of variables involved in a case study, so it is difficult to confidently establish any causal relationships between variables.
- Case studies are unusual by nature, so will have poor reliability as being able to replicate them exactly will be unlikely.
- Due to the small sample size, it is unlikely that findings from a case study alone can be generalised to the wider population.
Assessing reliability of Observations
Test Retest
- repeat exp w same pps and compare results gained from first and second observations, with results gained from the first, easier if observation recorded
- results from first and second trials should be very similar, and produce correlation coefficient of +0.08 or more to be reliable
-less reliable method = pilot study = conduct small trial run of observation, before main study carried out, ensure procedures and resources used in research can improve precision when measuring behaviour, may include standardised instructions, debriefing, planning procedures properly etc… to minimise variation and human error
All key concepts need to be operationalised so observers know what they are defining and measuring/observing, and they need to be properly trained so they know what behaviour fits into which operationalised category
Improving reliability of observations
- inter rater reliability
Make sure observation not biased, use more than one observer to observe and record behaviours separately, and results from both should be compared and have positive correlation coefficient of +0.8 or more - if inter rater reliability is low, reliability can be improved by ensuring categories have been operationalised properly, and clearly, so each observer understands the categories properly, when recording data, observers may also need further training about which behaviours to observe and how to measure them
-if results from pilot study not very clear, reliability could be improved by more training and practice to observers, they can become more familiar with behavioural categories and respond more quickly when observing patients
Assessing reliability of self reports
- Test retest:
Give a self-report to a group pf participants and collect the results.
Give the same participants the same self-report to complete a second time (a short interval of time should be left between the first and second test e.g. a few weeks).
Compare results from the first self-report to the second self-report.
The results from the first and second self-report should be very similar/consistent. We should gain a correlation coefficient of +0.8 or more if the self-report is reliable
Improving reliability in self reports
-
Questions used in the interview
We must make sure that the interview questions are not ambiguous.
They should be very clear so that participants understand them and can give the same answers if the questions were asked again in the future
Ambiguous questions might need to be rewritten if necessary or removed
-Inter researcher reliability
Make sure the self-report is not biased. If conducting an interview, it is possible to use more than one psychologist to interview participants separately or together and record answers separately.
The researchers need to act in similar and consistent ways, and each researcher needs to carry out the procedure and design in exactly the same way so as to make the research consistent.
The results from both psychologists could be compared and should gain a positive correlation coefficient of +0.8 or more if the interview is reliable
