Research methods Flashcards
Strengths of an independent measures design
- No order effects because different participants are used in each level of the IV
- Reduces demand characteristics because participants only see the task once
- The effects of individual differences can be reduced by random allocation to levels of the IV
Weaknesses of an independent measures design
- Individual differences could effect the results if participants in one level of the IV differ from those in another
- More participants are needed so may be harder to find
Strengths of a repeated measures design
- Individual differences are unlikely to effect the results because participants do both levels
- Counterbalancing reduces order effects
- Uses fewer participants so quicker than independent measures
- Blind procedures can reduce demand characteristics
Weaknesses of a repeated measures design
- Order effects and extraneous variable could effect the results
- Increases risk of demand characteristics because participants see the task more than one
Strengths of a matched pairs design
- Participants only see the task once so reduces demand characteristics
- Controls individual differences
- No order effects
Weaknesses of a matched pairs design
- The similarity between pairs is limited by the matching process
- Time consuming and difficult to find
How to address demand characteristics?
By not sharing the aim of the study till the end
What is reliability?
Something has high reliability if it produces similar results under consistent or same conditions
Why do lab experiments have high reliability?
Because the researcher can have a lot of control which ensures all participants are treated in the same way
Why is it useful for an experiment to be controlled?
Because it makes the experiment easier to replicate as they are following the exact same procedure
What is external reliability?
When a study’s results are consistent in the same situation with the same people
How would you test reliability?
Split half method
What is validity?
When a test measures what it claims to measure eg. an intelligence test measures not something else like memory
What is internal validity?
Whether the effects observed in a study are due to the manipulation of the IV and not something else
How to improve internal validity?
Standardised instructions, counterbalancing and eliminating demand characteristics
What is external validity?
Relates to issues beyond the investigation and whether the findings will generalise to other settings (ecological validity) and other people (population validity)
How to improve external validity?
Natural settings and random sampling
Why do lab experiments have high internal validity?
Because in lab experiments you can control extraneous variables so the researcher can be sure that changes to the DV have been caused by the IV
Strengths of a laboratory experiment
- Control of extraneous variables
- Can be replicated therefore researchers can be more confident in their findings
- Casual relationships can be determined
Weaknesses of a laboratory experiment
- The artificial situation could make participants behaviour unrepresentative
- Participants could respond to demand characteristics and alter their behaviour
Strengths of a field experiment
- All participants are in their normal situation so their behaviour is more representative
- Participants could be unaware they are in a study so less demand characteristics
Weaknesses of a field experiment
- Less control over extraneous variables so findings are less reliable and replication is more difficult
- The researcher cannot be sure of cause and effect
- Participants could be unaware they in a study which raises ethical issues
Strengths of a quasi experiment
- They can be used to study real world issues
- If participants are in their normal situation, behaviour is more representative
- If participants are unaware they are in a study, it reduces demand characteristics
- They enable researchers to investigate variables that could not practically or ethically be manipulated
Weaknesses of a quasi experiment
- They are only possible when naturally occurring differences arise
- Control over extraneous variables is difficult
- The researcher cannot be sure of cause and effect
- Hard to replicate
Strengths of a naturalistic observation
- Participants are in their normal environment so more likely to act in realistic ways
- Participants are less likely to be aware they are being observed so more likely to act in a genuine way
- Reactions can be observed within a complete and complex social setting
Weaknesses of a naturalistic observation
- Hard to control extraneous variables so threat to validity
- May be difficult to ensure reliability of data as recording equipment would be obvious
Strengths of a controlled observation
- Data is likely to be reliable as equipment and researchers can be obvious
- Control of extraneous variables so high validity
Weaknesses of a controlled observation
- Participants are in an unfamiliar environment so may react differently from normal
- Participants will be aware they are in an artificial environment so their responses may not reflect what they normally would do
Strengths of a participant observation
- Being involved in the social group can give the observer an insight into the real participants’ emotions and motives
- If the participants are unaware of the observers role they might behave more normally and reveal more, increasing validity
Weaknesses of a participant observation
- Participants will be aware they are being observed so their responses might not reflect what they normally do
- Being involved in the social group can make the observer subjective
- If a participant observer is hidden it raises practical and ethical issues as the participants cannot give informed consent
Strengths of a non-participant observation
- If non-participant observers are convert eg. hidden by one way screen, data can use equipment to make accurate and detailed records
- Observers can remain objective about the situation as they are not involved
Weaknesses of a non-participant observation
- If participants are unaware they are being observed it raises ethical issues
- If participants are aware of a non-participant observer it will impact their behaviour
Strengths of an overt observation
- More ethical because participants are aware of the observers presence
Weaknesses of an overt observation
- Participants will be aware they are being observed so their responses might not reflect what they normally do
Strengths of covert observation
- Participants are less likely to be aware they are being observed so react in a genuine way
- If covert observers are non-participant eg. hidden, data recording can use equipment to make accurate and detailed records
Strengths of event sampling
- it can record every occurrence of each behaviour to give a complete record
- Records are easy to obtain and analyse as they are just totals
Weaknesses of event sampling
- It gives no indication of the time spent on each behavioural category
- It gives no indication of the order in which events from each behavioural category occur
Strengths of time sampling
- It can give an indication of the order in which events happen
- It can give an indication of the time spend on each behaviour
Weaknesses of time sampling
- Difficult to record as many behaviours as appose to event sampling
- Records are more difficult to obtain as timings have to be precise
