Research Methods

Question 1

What are the different research methods?

Answer 1

• Experiments
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Case studies
• Observational techniques
• Investigations using correlation analysis

Question 2

Types of experiment?

Answer 2

Lab / field

Question 3

What are Lab experiments?

Answer 3

Experiments carried out carefully in controlled conditions.

Question 4

Advantages of Lab Experiments

Answer 4

Strengths;
-Give psychologists the highest possible level of control over confounding variables meaning its high in INTERNAL VALIDITY.
Allows researcher to establish between cause and effect making it possible to state that the independent variable has caused the change in dependent variable as everything else was controlled.
-Allows replication which allows other participants to repeat the experiment and achieve the same findings.
A piece of research will have far more credibility if it is replicated and supported.
-Forcing the pace of research-the psychologist can decide when to start the experiment and when to stop the experiment etc. It also allows the experimenter to select when and where to undertake an experiment.

Question 5

Disadvantages of lab experiments

Answer 5

• The more you control behaviour, the less natural it becomes.
• Argued that experiments encourage behaviours that are artificial and not like real life = lack ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY. i.e. results cannot be generalised to situations outside the lab.
• Demand characteristics - ppts try to make sense of the situation and act accordingly (ppts are being observed and act in a way which they think the experimenter wishes. = threatens the VALIDITY of the experiment.
• Ethical issues - possible deception? Was the ppt told the experiment was about something else?

Question 6

What are field experiments?

Answer 6

They are experiments that are carried out in natural settings e.g. school/street/work etc.
They involve direct control of the independent variable by the experimenter.

Question 7

Advantages of field experimenters

Answer 7

• Improved ECOLOGOICAL VALIDITY = not as artificial as lab experiments and therefore it is possible to generalise the findings to real life situations.
• Reproduction of demand characteristics = participants may be unaware of taking part, therefore their behaviour is more typical of their normal behaviour and less artificial.