Research Methods Evaluations-AS Only Flashcards

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1
Q

Laboratory Experiments-Strengths

A
  • High control over extraneous -High external validity

- Can be replicated-increases validity of results

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2
Q

Laboratory Experiments-Weaknesses

A
  • Lacks Generalisations-Artificial environment/task
  • Participants may behave natural-demand characteristics and low external validity
  • Low mundane realism because of not everyday task
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3
Q

Field Experiments-Strengths

A
  • High mundane realism-natural environment

- More valid and natural behaviour-high external validity

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4
Q

Field Experiment-Weaknesses

A
  • Extraneous variables are not controlled-difficult to see cause and effect
  • Can’t be fully replicated
  • Ethical issues as participants are not fully aware of participation-cannot consent-invasion of privacy?
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5
Q

Natural Experiments-Strengths

A
  • Provides research opportunities for studies that may not happen for ethical reasons
  • High external validity-looks at real life issues and problems
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6
Q

Natural Experiments-Weaknesses

A
  • Naturally occurring event may be rare-hard to generalise

- Participants may not be randomly allocated-Unsure if IV affected the DV

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7
Q

Quasi Experiments-Strengths

A
  • High control over extraneous -High external validity

- Can be replicated-increases validity of results

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8
Q

Quasi Experiments-Weaknesses

A

-Confounding Variables can occur-Cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions

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9
Q

Independent Groups Design-Strength

A
  • No order effects or Demand Characteristics

- Easy to allocate participants to groups-Uses Random Allocation

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10
Q

Independent Groups Design-Weaknesses

A
  • Chance that the groups are unbalanced-could have participant variables
  • Less economical-Two different sets of participants
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11
Q

Repeated Measures Design-Strengths

A
  • No participant variables-Same participants in both conditions
  • Economical-Only one set of participants are required
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12
Q

Repeated Measures Design-Weaknesses

A
  • Demand Characteristics-Partcipants might predict the aim of the study before the second condition
  • Order Effects-Experiment is done twice
  • Learning could occur
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13
Q

Matched Pairs Design-Strength

A

No order effects-Partcipants only experience one condition

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14
Q

Matched Pairs Design-Weaknesses

A
  • Partcipants might not be matched with 100% accuracy-Partcipant variables could still occur
  • Matching the participants is time consuming and costly-less economic
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15
Q

Random Sampling-Strength

A

-Free from researcher bias-The researcher cannot pick the participants for each condition

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16
Q

Random Sampling-Weaknesses

A
  • Difficut and time consuming to fully randomize the participants
  • Chance of bias-Due to laws of probability
  • Partcipants could refuse to participate
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17
Q

Systematic Sampling-Strengths

A
  • Avoids researcher bias-follows a pattern

- Provides a fairly representative sample

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18
Q

Systematic Sampling-Weaknesses

A
  • Partcipants could work out the pattern if it is not fully random
  • The participant could refuse to participate
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19
Q

Stratified Sampling- Strengths

A
  • Avoids researcher bias- They can’t choose the participants

- Provides a representative sample of the target population-Generalisation can occur

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20
Q

Stratified Sampling-Weaknesses

A
  • Complete representation of the target population is not always possible due to individual differences
  • Partcipant could refuse to participate
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21
Q

Opportunity Sampling-Strength

A

-Quick and cheap to get participants

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22
Q

Opportunity Sampling-Weaknessess

A
  • Unrepresentative sample-All participants come from the same area
  • Researcher bias-They choose the participants
  • Partcipants could refuse to participate
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23
Q

Volunteer Sample-Strengths

A

-Easy to get a sample- “They come to you”

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24
Q

Volunteer Sample-Weaknesses

A
  • Volunteer bias-a certain type of person may be attracted-affects generalisation
  • Partcipants may refuse to participate
25
Q

Naturalistic Observation-Strength

A

-High ecological validity as behaviour occurs naturally in its natural environment-Easy to generalize

26
Q

Naturalistic Observations-Weaknessess

A
  • Hard to replicate-Lack of control

- Uncontrolled Extraneous Variables

27
Q

Controlled Observations-Strengths

A
  • Replicable- Highly controlled

- Extraneous Variables have little effect

28
Q

Controlled Observation-Weakness

A

-Findings cannot be generalised

29
Q

Covert Observation-Strength

A

-All natural behaviour is on show as the participants don’t know that they are being observed-Increases the validity

30
Q

Covert Observation-Weakness

A

-Ethical issues- Privacy and Consent

31
Q

Overt Observation-Strength

A

-Less ethical issues-Partcipants know they are being observed

32
Q

Overt Observation-Weakness

A

-As they know that they are being observed-Demand Characteristics and Non natural behaviour could occur

33
Q

Structured Observation-Strengths

A
  • Easy to record behaviour-Uses behavioural categories

- Produces Quantitative Data-Easy to analyse

34
Q

Structured Observation-Weaknesses

A

-Less detailed results

35
Q

Unstructured Observation-Strength

A

-Infomation is more detailed

36
Q

Unstructured Observation-Weaknesses

A
  • Provides qualitative data-harder to analyse

- High chance of observer bias-they pick behaviour to analyse-No behaviour categories

37
Q

Event Sampling-Strength

A

-Useful when the event frequently occurs

38
Q

Event Sampling-Weakness

A

-Observer may overlook details and behaviours if they are too complex

39
Q

Time Sampling-Strength

A

-Reduces the number of investigations that have to occur

40
Q

Time Sampling-Weakness

A

-An observed behaviour may unrepresentative of the investigation as a whole

41
Q

Questionnaires-Strengths

A
  • Cost effective
  • Can be completed without a researcher
  • Quantitative data produced-Easy to analyse and compare
42
Q

Questionnaires-Weaknesses

A
  • Social Desirability Bias-People could lie to be more socially desirable
  • Response Bias-A person could just tick the same box
43
Q

Structured Interview-Strengths

A
  • Straightforward and easy to replicate

- Data is easy to analyse

44
Q

Structured Interview-Weaknesses

A

-Interviewer cannot deviate from the set of questions-this annoys and frustrates them

45
Q

Unstructured Interview-Strength

A

-More flexibility-follow up questions can be asked

46
Q

Unstructured Interview-Weaknesses

A
  • Data is harder to analyse

- People may lie on their responses-Social desirability bias

47
Q

Correlations-Strengths

A
  • Can be used as a preliminary tool or as a starting point for research
  • Quick and economical
  • Can use secondary data
48
Q

Correlations-Weaknesses

A
  • Can only tell us how variables are related, but not why

- “Third-Variable Problem”-a untested variable affecting one or both co-variables

49
Q

Qualitative Data-Strengths

A
  • More detail

- More external validity- provides researchers with participants insight

50
Q

Qualitative Data-Weaknesses

A
  • Harder to analyse
  • Patterns can be hard to identify
  • Conclusions are based on subjective interpretation
51
Q

Quantitative Data-Strengths

A
  • Simple to analyse
  • Easy to find patterns
  • More objective
52
Q

Quantitative Data-Weaknesses

A
  • Narrower- less detail

- Fails to represent “real-life”

53
Q

Primary Data-Strengths

A
  • Obtained from the participants themselves

- Collected in multiple ways

54
Q

Primary Data-Weakness

A

-Requires time and effort to produce data as experiment has to be done

55
Q

Secondary Data-Strengths

A
  • Inexpensive and quick to access

- Might be no need to conduct a study as data might be enough

56
Q

Secondary Data-Weaknesse

A

-Large variation of quantity of secondary data- it could be out-dated or have many flaws

57
Q

Peer Review-Strengths

A
  • Established validity in the research

- Makes sure research is accurate

58
Q

Peer Review-Weaknesses

A
  • Anomity-Other can use it as a chance to get revenge on someone
  • Publication Bias- journals only publish works that they like- creates a false impression of the state of psychology
  • Burying ground-breaking research-they try to maintain the status-quo within certain areas