Research Methods Flashcards
What is the function of the experimental method
Allows the psychologist to establish a casual relationship between variable by minipulating the independent variable and measuring the dependent variable
What are the 3 criteria for an experimental research method
The effect of the IV on the DV is being tested
Controlled conditions are established ie. using standardised procedures
The possible replication of the procedure in order to test the reliability of the findings
What are the 3 types of the experimental method
Lab
Field
Quasi
What is a lab experiment
When the experiment takes place in a artificial setting where the environment is strictly controlled
What is a field experiment
Where the excitement take place in the place where you would naturally find that behaviour ie, school, prison etc.
What is a quasi expirement
Can take place in lab or naturalistic setting, where the IV is naturally occurring as the psychologist is unable to minipulate it ie, age, gender of participants etc.
Strength of a lab experiment
High levels of Control in a lab experiment will produce scientific research which ensures that the IV is the only thing affecting the DV.
Strength of a field experiment
Can offer a more realistic setting thus having more ecological validity
Strength of a quasi experiment
Allows us to study the effects of variables that a psychologist is unable to minipulate
Weakness of a lab expirement
Less ecological validity because it takes place in a artificial setting and does not reflect real life.
Weakness of a field experiment
Lack of control can mean that it is difficult to assume that the Iv is actually affecting the DV
Ie, cannot be sure their wasn’t a confounding variable
Weakness of a quasi experiment
No control over the participant, in terms of social setting, how they were brought up and life style. These variable could confound the data
What is a naturalistic observation
Carried out in the field where the observer can record behaviour in its natural setting
What is a controlled observation
Where the observation takes place in a artificial setting where the observer controls all possible factors which might alter behaviour
What is a participant observation
Where the observers are part of, or are pretending to be part of, the group they are observing and emerges themselves in the behaviour and culture of the group
Ie, living with the native tribe who you are researching
What is a non-participant observation
The opposite of a participant observation
The observer is not part of the group they are researching and observing from a distance.
What is an unstructured observation
Observer continuously records and reports on behaviour, noting everything that happens
What is a structured observation
Impose a structure on their observation to only gather data which relate to the aim of the study (what behaviour they are interested in)
What is a covert observation
When the participant does not know he/she is being oberserved as the observer conceals their identity and purpose
What is an overt observation
Where the participant is aware they are being studied and has either given consent or aware of the observers presscence
Weakness of unstructured observation
Their might be too much stimulus for the observer too record everything so the observation might not be successful also the data gathered is so dense and detailed that its difficult to analyse and find patterns
Advantage of the structured observation method
Allows for comparisons to be made across each observation and for trends in the data to be seen more easily
Weakness of a structured observation
As you are only noting down relevant behaviour you may risk missing out something important causing skewed data
Say you had a checklist of 6 behaviours but the 7th was happening a lot more frequently then the data would be skewed
Strength of naturalistic observations
High in ecological validity
Weakness of naturalistic observation
Lack of control may mean that their could be other factors influencing behaviour
Weakness of controlled observations
Low in ecological validity
Advantage of participant observation
Good vantage point
Weakness of participant observation
Difficult to remain turkey objective once you are part of the group therefore it’s open to observer bias
Advantage of non-participant observation
You remain more objective
Weakness of non-participant observation
You may miss out on behaviours as you don’t have as good vantage point
What is event sampling
Where an event is recorded each time it occurrs
What is time point sampling
Where the observer is recording the participant at fixed intervals ie 5 seconds every minute
What is time event sampling
Where a fixed period of time is set for observation ie, the first ten minutes of every hour is allocated to observing the number of people in a cafe over the working day
Advantage of using time sampling
A manageable way of measuring behaviour he researcher is interested in
Weakness of time sampling
In the time peroids they are not observing, they may miss behaviours
What is the function of coding frames
Enables the psychologist to analyse qualitative data
What is a content analysis
When the observer codes written or filmed material
