Research Methods Evaluations-AS Only Flashcards
Laboratory Experiments-Strengths
- High control over extraneous -High external validity
- Can be replicated-increases validity of results
Laboratory Experiments-Weaknesses
- Lacks Generalisations-Artificial environment/task
- Participants may behave natural-demand characteristics and low external validity
- Low mundane realism because of not everyday task
Field Experiments-Strengths
- High mundane realism-natural environment
- More valid and natural behaviour-high external validity
Field Experiment-Weaknesses
- 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?
Natural Experiments-Strengths
- Provides research opportunities for studies that may not happen for ethical reasons
- High external validity-looks at real life issues and problems
Natural Experiments-Weaknesses
- Naturally occurring event may be rare-hard to generalise
- Participants may not be randomly allocated-Unsure if IV affected the DV
Quasi Experiments-Strengths
- High control over extraneous -High external validity
- Can be replicated-increases validity of results
Quasi Experiments-Weaknesses
-Confounding Variables can occur-Cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions
Independent Groups Design-Strength
- No order effects or Demand Characteristics
- Easy to allocate participants to groups-Uses Random Allocation
Independent Groups Design-Weaknesses
- Chance that the groups are unbalanced-could have participant variables
- Less economical-Two different sets of participants
Repeated Measures Design-Strengths
- No participant variables-Same participants in both conditions
- Economical-Only one set of participants are required
Repeated Measures Design-Weaknesses
- Demand Characteristics-Partcipants might predict the aim of the study before the second condition
- Order Effects-Experiment is done twice
- Learning could occur
Matched Pairs Design-Strength
No order effects-Partcipants only experience one condition
Matched Pairs Design-Weaknesses
- Partcipants might not be matched with 100% accuracy-Partcipant variables could still occur
- Matching the participants is time consuming and costly-less economic
Random Sampling-Strength
-Free from researcher bias-The researcher cannot pick the participants for each condition
Random Sampling-Weaknesses
- Difficut and time consuming to fully randomize the participants
- Chance of bias-Due to laws of probability
- Partcipants could refuse to participate
Systematic Sampling-Strengths
- Avoids researcher bias-follows a pattern
- Provides a fairly representative sample
Systematic Sampling-Weaknesses
- Partcipants could work out the pattern if it is not fully random
- The participant could refuse to participate
Stratified Sampling- Strengths
- Avoids researcher bias- They can’t choose the participants
- Provides a representative sample of the target population-Generalisation can occur
Stratified Sampling-Weaknesses
- Complete representation of the target population is not always possible due to individual differences
- Partcipant could refuse to participate
Opportunity Sampling-Strength
-Quick and cheap to get participants
Opportunity Sampling-Weaknessess
- Unrepresentative sample-All participants come from the same area
- Researcher bias-They choose the participants
- Partcipants could refuse to participate
Volunteer Sample-Strengths
-Easy to get a sample- “They come to you”