research methods Flashcards

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1
Q

lab experiment

A

illegal to test real witnesses as it may bias testimony
IV: changed to test effect of leading question or weapon focus
DV: testimony or witness recall

  1. gather ppts to take part - vary characteristics of ppts
  2. show film or photo of incident or suspect - ppts see different films
  3. ask them to recall as a test of memory - vary time at which ppts recall and how they recall
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2
Q

evaluation for lab experiment

A
  • standardised procedure
  • good controls allows cause and effect
  • easier to replicate
  • unnatural behaviour e.g. Loftus and Palmer 1974 ppts expecting to see something so pay more attention so cannot generalise findings to real life
  • validity falls as ppts less likely to experience stress by watching film, not interviewed by police and unlikely to speak to others
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3
Q

field experiment

A
  • natural setting artificially constructed
  • recreate environment in which a particular situation is likely to occur e.g. car accident
  • same steps as lab but step 2 is witness real crime
  • Valentine and meson 2009 - London dungeon was field experiment
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4
Q

evaluation for field experiment

A
  • hard to control as situational variables occur like distractions from others so can’t be replicated as extraneous variable affect findings leading to inconsistent results and low reliability
  • behaviour more likely to reflect real life
  • increased stress and less recall than lab so increased ecological validity
  • ppts unaware they are participating so less risk of demand characteristics
  • researcher needs to stage incident to not create excessive distress
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5
Q

case studies

A

= in depth investigation of a single prson

  • useful in understanding why a person committed an offence and develop formulation and explore factors relevant to offending
  • clinical evaluations of case study determine if treatment of an offender is working
  1. gather FEW ppts to take part
  2. show film or photo of incident or suspect - ppts see different films
  3. ask them to recall as a test of memory - vary time at which ppts recall and how they recall (MORE DETAIL)
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6
Q

case study evaluation

A
  • detailed info as you used a variety of sources e.g. interview, questionnaire. identifying motives, beliefs
  • cannot be generalised
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7
Q

sampling methods

A
  • usually opportunity sample or random sampling of students therefore low generalisability as they represent a homogenous group of individuals who do not have the variation of possible characteristics that typical witnesses might have
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8
Q

what the research issues

A
  1. reliability
  2. validity
  3. objectivity
  4. credibility
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9
Q

reliability

A

= consistency of the research findings

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10
Q

credibility

A
  • research is credible if it is valid, objective and reliable
  • research needs to be credible as the application of findings is important for police
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11
Q

validity

A

= how well a study measures what its supposed to

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12
Q

objectivity

A

= researchers remain natural and unbiased when investigating a topic

  • usually gather quantitative so no need for interpretation and no bias
  • undertaking a case study on an offender requires you spending time and overtime so you get good understanding of there offending

Field and lab = quantitative so objective
Case study = qualitative so subjective

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