Research Methods Flashcards
Define lab experiment
When IV is deliberately manipulated in a specially designed environment where other variables can be easily controlled.
PPs are aware that they are taking part.
Strengths of lab experiment
- More control
- Easily replicated
Weaknesses of lab experiment
- Artificial environment, lacking ecological validity
- Demand characteristics
Define field experiment
Deliberate manipulation of the IV in a natural environment.
PPs are often unaware that they are in the experiment.
Strengths of field experiment
- High ecological validity
- No demand characteristics
Weaknesses of field experiment
- Less control, can be less confident with cause and effect.
- Unethical:Might experience distress and are not debriefed, invasion of privacy.
Define natural experiment
When the IV already exists.
Strengths of natural experiment
- Provides opportunities for research that wouldn’t have been done.
- High external validity because they study real life issues.
- Might be more ethical because it does not interfere with PP’s existence.
Weaknesses of natural experiment
- Rare, can be difficult to generalize
- Randomisation: not randomly allocated so participant effects may lower validity. Can be less confident about cause and effect.
Define self-report
When PPs ar required to give their own responses.
Strengths of questionnaires
- Easily replicated
- PPs might be more willing to reveal personal information than in an interview.
Weaknesses of questionnaires
- Answers may not be truthful due to leading questions or social desirability bias. Can use filler questions to help.
- sample bias: can only be filled by literate people with time to do it.
Strengths and weaknesses open questions
- They produce qualitative data- rich detail
- More difficult to analyze
Strengths and weaknesses of quantitative data
- Easier to analyze
- PPs may be forced to select answers that are not their real thoughts of behavior.
Types of closed questions
- Likert scales:PPs must choose the extent which they agree
- Rating scales:PPs identify a value that represents their strength of feeling about a particular topic
- Fixed choice option:from the lists of options, PPs have to indicate which ones apply to them.
Strengths of structured interview
Easily replicated because questions are standardized .
Easier to analyze.
Weaknesses of structured interview
Answers may not be truthful due to social desirability bias.
Answers may influenced by interviewer:interviewer bias.
Strengths of semi structured interview
More detailed information.
Can access extra information.
More ecological validity because it is like a real conversation.
Weaknesses of semi structured interview
More likely to be affected by interviewer bias.
Requires trained interviewers.
Difficult to summarize data, to analyze for trends, or make comparisons.
Strengths of unstructured interview
More flexibility
Could be tailored according to the answer.
Weaknesses of unstructured interview
Hard to analyze.
Social desirability bias.
Requires trained interviewers which are expensive.
Lack objectivity due to spontaneous nature.
Define a case study
A detailed study of an individual, event, or a community which uses a range of sources and methods, They usually have a longitudinal nature.
Strengths of case studies
Allows great depth and genuine context, increasing validity.
Validity can be improved by triangulation.
High ecological validity.
Follows developmental changes.
Weaknesses of case studies
Low generalizability as case is unique.
Researcher Bias and subjectivity as relationship forms.
Ethical issues with privacy and confidentiality.
Define naturalistic observation
Observations made where everything has been left normally
Strengths and weaknesses of naturalistic observation
- High ecological validity.
- No demand characteristics.
- No control over extraneous variables.
- Observer bias and reliability of observations.
Strengths and weaknesses of controlled observation
- Can manipulate variables to observe effects.
- Reduced ecological validity.
- Investigator effects
- Observer bias and reliability of observations.
- Demand characteristics
Define behavioral categories
An objective method to separate the stream of actions into separate behavioral components.
What is inter-rater reliability.
When all observers compare results and check the consistency when observing the same behavior with the same checklist.
Define event sampling
Where researcher counts number of times a certain behavior happens for an individual.
Define time sampling
Where behavior is recorded in a given time frame.
Strengths and weaknesses of covert observation
- No demand characteristics and social desirability bias.
- Data collection is more difficult.
- Ethical issues because they cannot give consent.
Strengths and weaknesses of participant observation.
- Can gain detailed data and a wide variety of them.
- Longitudinal research.
- Risk of not being able to observe.
- Difficult to record information without letting them know.
Define correlations
A relationship between two continuous variables .
Strengths of correlations
Useful for investigating trends, used an a initial research tool.
Easily repeated, findings can be confirmed.
Quick and economical.
Can be used when it’s impractical to manipulate variables.
Weaknesses of correlations
Misinterpretation of results from one researcher to another.
There could be a third variable affecting the results.
Does not show cause and effect.
Strengths of structured observation
Objective- because only those behavior could be recorded.
High inter-rater reliability
Strengths of unstructured observation
- Unlikely to miss important behaviours
- Behaviours are not limited because he could record anything he sees
Explain why low reliability would be a problem in experiments
- Lower validity
- Experiments are inconsistent
- Cannot tell whether differences are due to manipulations or errors.
- eg. Lower consistency between researchers.
- eg. lower consistency for same researcher over time
How should you measure reliability when there is only one observer
- Use test re-test method
- Record the experiment and watch the video twice
- Find correlation between scores for first and second observation
- The higher the correlation the more reliable it is
- Results should be consistent if it is reliable.
Suggest one disadvantage of using a likert scale to measure ‘happiness’
There may be individual differences as people may interpret 0-10 differently .
What is a naturalistic observation
An observation done in a real setting where there is no interference.
What is a controlled observation
An observation that is set up and usually done in an artificial environment. Often uses stooge.
Explain why low validity would be a problem
Validity is being sure you are investigating what you intended.
- If it is valid, the results are credible, more useful, and you can believe in your findings.
- You would not be able to draw causal conclusion and generalise your findings.
- You don’t know if IV is causing DV.
Suggest a problem with reliability in any study
-D&K might have interpreted the dream reports differently, PPs from SS could have interpreted the scale differently.
Weaknesses for using scale for self-report
Subjectivity because another child might interpret it differently.
Explain a reason for having a control condition
Other variables might be affecting the DV.
