Research Methods- methods and techniques

Question 1

What is a lab experiment?

Answer 1

When the experiment occurs in a controlled environment- the IV is manipulated by the researcher, they control as many extraneous variables as possible.

Question 2

Strengths/ Weaknesses of Lab Experiments?

Answer 2

strength: high levels of reliability due to control over extraneous variables
weakness: lacks ecological validity (artificial environment)

Question 3

What is a field experiment?

Answer 3

When the experiment occurs in the participants’ natural environment- IV is still manipulated to see effect on DV

Question 4

strengths/ weaknesses of field experiments?

Answer 4

strength: high levels of ecological validity
weakness: low level of reliability- little to no control over extraneous variables

Question 5

What is a quasi experiment?

Answer 5

When the IV in an experiment is not directly manipulated, as it is naturally occurring (e.g. a blind person vs a non blind person)

Question 6

strengths/ weaknesses of quasi experiments?

Answer 6

strength: high ecological validity, high population validity
weakness: low reliability (both internal and external)

Question 7

How is an observation used as a method?

Answer 7

No manipulation of variables, behaviour is just observed and recorded
(e.g. a student observes how often parents talk to their children in a supermarket)

Question 8

How is an observation used as a technique?

Answer 8

It is used to gather info for another research method.
(e.g. the speed at which woodlice run away from red or blue light- the colour of the light (IV) is manipulated by researcher

Question 9

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 9

Spontaneous behaviour is recorded in participants’ own, natural environment- researcher interference is kept to a minimum

Question 10

strengths/ weaknesses of a naturalistic observation?

Answer 10

strengths: high ecological validity, reduced chance of demand characteristics
weaknesses: lack of control (replication risks observer bias), ethical issues (lacks informed consent)

Question 11

How could a naturalistic observation affect the validity of research?

Answer 11

• Higher validity- participants unlikely to know they’re being watched so reduced risk of observer bias
• Lower validity- more extraneous variables

Question 12

What is a controlled observation?

Answer 12

Conditions of the experiment are created by the researcher- carried out in ‘lab type situation’
The variables are manipulated by researcher

Question 13

strengths/ weaknesses of a controlled observation?

Answer 13

strengths: high reliability (researcher controls extraneous variables), informed consent
weaknesses: low ecological validity (artificial setting), increased demand characteristics and observer effects

Question 14

What is a participant observation?

Answer 14

Observer joins in with activities with the group rather than just plain observing/ recording

Question 15

strengths/ weaknesses of participant observations?

Answer 15

strengths: higher validity of findings (first-hand observation)
weaknesses: relies on observer’s memory= lower accuracy

Question 16

What is a non- participant observation?

Answer 16

Observer doesn’t join in with activities, they observe ‘from a distance’ (e.g. sat at the back of a room)

Question 17

strengths/ weaknesses of a non-participant observation?

Answer 17

strengths: allows lots of both qualitative and quantitative data to be collected
weakness: less validity

Question 18

What is a covert observation?

Answer 18

Observer is hidden (undercover)

Question 19

strengths/ weaknesses of a covert observation?

Answer 19

strength: lower chance of demand characteristics
weakness: ethical issues- deception, informed consent

Question 20

What is an overt observation?

Answer 20

Observer is out in the open (visible to participants)

Question 21

strengths/ weaknesses of overt observations?

Answer 21

strength: ethical issues avoided (informed consent, right to withdraw)
weakness: demand characteristics

Question 22

What is a structured recording?

Answer 22

It uses a coding method and uses previously determined specific behaviours (behavioural categories) to look out for, therefore providing structure

Question 23

strengths/ weaknesses of structured recordings?

Answer 23

strengths: high inter-rater reliability (consistent results), observer bias is reduced, time efficient, quantitative data is produced
weaknesses: lower validity (could miss out on other behaviours not written down)

Question 24

What is an unstructured recording?

Answer 24

Any behaviours of interest aren’t clearly specified prior to observation- the observer makes notes on any behaviour that they see during the period

Question 25

strengths/ weaknesses of unstructured recordings?

Answer 25

strength: improves validity- you can record anything that happens
weaknesses: less inter-rater reliability, quantitative data becomes qualitative (therefore subjective), not as time efficient

Question 26

What is a questionnaire?

Answer 26

respondents write down their own answers

Question 27

strengths/ weaknesses of a questionnaire?

Answer 27

strengths: responses are honest if there is confidentiality (high response rate= representative findings), quantitative data- objective
weaknesses: people can’t expand on answers (lacks qualitative insights), ‘best fit’ answers may be made due to closed questions- reduces validity

Question 28

What is a structured interview?

Answer 28

Respondents are asked pre-determined questions

Question 29

strengths/ weaknesses of structured interviews?

Answer 29

strengths: qualitative= more detail= more valid, answers are easily comparable (more reliable)
weaknesses: may answer dishonestly (social desirability bias)

Question 30

What is an unstructured interview?

Answer 30

Respondents are asked undetermined questions (on-the-spot questions)

Question 31

strengths/ weaknesses of unstructured interviews?

Answer 31

strength: flexible responses= more detail= increased validity
weaknesses: difficult to repeat (different questions= less reliable), people may get side-tracked

Question 32

What is a semi-structured interview?

Answer 32

Some questions asked are pre-determined, the rest are developed as a response to previous answers (on-the-spot questions)

Question 33

strengths/ weaknesses of semi-structured interviews?

Answer 33

strength: both qualitative and quantitative insight
weakness: may get side-tracked on the developed questions.

Question 34

What are any potential problems with self-reports?

Answer 34

Reliability- questions may never be asked again/ in the same order (lacks external reliability)
Interviewer bias
Dishonesty
Low response rate
Population validity- may not be applicable

Question 35

What is a correlation?

Answer 35

Looks at relationship between two co-variables
[correlation DOES NOT = causation]
They also check if it is appropriate/ possible to do an experiment

Question 36

What is a positive correlation?

Answer 36

The variables move in the same direction- as one increases, so does the other (and vice versa)
1+ represents a perfect positive correlation

Question 37

What is a negative correlation?

Answer 37

The variables move in opposite directions- as one variable increases, the other decreases (and vice versa)
1- represents a perfect negative correlation

Question 38

What does it mean if there is no correlation?

Answer 38

There is no relationship between the two co-variables
0 represents no correlation

Question 39

strengths of correlations?

Answer 39

provides a starting point for research
more time efficient (prevents time wasting on experiments)
strong face validity
quantitative results- easy to analyse, objective

Question 40

weaknesses of correlations?

Answer 40

data doesn’t explain WHY there is a relationship
doesn’t establish cause and effect
lacks general usefulness
no construct validity (doesn’t measure for sure what is needed)