Research Methods- methods and techniques Flashcards
What is a lab experiment?
When the experiment occurs in a controlled environment- the IV is manipulated by the researcher, they control as many extraneous variables as possible.
Strengths/ Weaknesses of Lab Experiments?
strength: high levels of reliability due to control over extraneous variables
weakness: lacks ecological validity (artificial environment)
What is a field experiment?
When the experiment occurs in the participants’ natural environment- IV is still manipulated to see effect on DV
strengths/ weaknesses of field experiments?
strength: high levels of ecological validity
weakness: low level of reliability- little to no control over extraneous variables
What is a quasi experiment?
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)
strengths/ weaknesses of quasi experiments?
strength: high ecological validity, high population validity
weakness: low reliability (both internal and external)
How is an observation used as a method?
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)
How is an observation used as a technique?
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
What is a naturalistic observation?
Spontaneous behaviour is recorded in participants’ own, natural environment- researcher interference is kept to a minimum
strengths/ weaknesses of a naturalistic observation?
strengths: high ecological validity, reduced chance of demand characteristics
weaknesses: lack of control (replication risks observer bias), ethical issues (lacks informed consent)
How could a naturalistic observation affect the validity of research?
- Higher validity- participants unlikely to know they’re being watched so reduced risk of observer bias
- Lower validity- more extraneous variables
What is a controlled observation?
Conditions of the experiment are created by the researcher- carried out in ‘lab type situation’
The variables are manipulated by researcher
strengths/ weaknesses of a controlled observation?
strengths: high reliability (researcher controls extraneous variables), informed consent
weaknesses: low ecological validity (artificial setting), increased demand characteristics and observer effects
What is a participant observation?
Observer joins in with activities with the group rather than just plain observing/ recording
strengths/ weaknesses of participant observations?
strengths: higher validity of findings (first-hand observation)
weaknesses: relies on observer’s memory= lower accuracy
What is a non- participant observation?
Observer doesn’t join in with activities, they observe ‘from a distance’ (e.g. sat at the back of a room)
strengths/ weaknesses of a non-participant observation?
strengths: allows lots of both qualitative and quantitative data to be collected
weakness: less validity
What is a covert observation?
Observer is hidden (undercover)
strengths/ weaknesses of a covert observation?
strength: lower chance of demand characteristics
weakness: ethical issues- deception, informed consent
What is an overt observation?
Observer is out in the open (visible to participants)
strengths/ weaknesses of overt observations?
strength: ethical issues avoided (informed consent, right to withdraw)
weakness: demand characteristics
What is a structured recording?
It uses a coding method and uses previously determined specific behaviours (behavioural categories) to look out for, therefore providing structure
strengths/ weaknesses of structured recordings?
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)
What is an unstructured recording?
Any behaviours of interest aren’t clearly specified prior to observation- the observer makes notes on any behaviour that they see during the period
strengths/ weaknesses of unstructured recordings?
strength: improves validity- you can record anything that happens
weaknesses: less inter-rater reliability, quantitative data becomes qualitative (therefore subjective), not as time efficient
What is a questionnaire?
respondents write down their own answers
strengths/ weaknesses of a questionnaire?
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
What is a structured interview?
Respondents are asked pre-determined questions
strengths/ weaknesses of structured interviews?
strengths: qualitative= more detail= more valid, answers are easily comparable (more reliable)
weaknesses: may answer dishonestly (social desirability bias)
What is an unstructured interview?
Respondents are asked undetermined questions (on-the-spot questions)
strengths/ weaknesses of unstructured interviews?
strength: flexible responses= more detail= increased validity
weaknesses: difficult to repeat (different questions= less reliable), people may get side-tracked
What is a semi-structured interview?
Some questions asked are pre-determined, the rest are developed as a response to previous answers (on-the-spot questions)
strengths/ weaknesses of semi-structured interviews?
strength: both qualitative and quantitative insight
weakness: may get side-tracked on the developed questions.
What are any potential problems with self-reports?
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
What is a correlation?
Looks at relationship between two co-variables
[correlation DOES NOT = causation]
They also check if it is appropriate/ possible to do an experiment
What is a positive correlation?
The variables move in the same direction- as one increases, so does the other (and vice versa)
1+ represents a perfect positive correlation
What is a negative correlation?
The variables move in opposite directions- as one variable increases, the other decreases (and vice versa)
1- represents a perfect negative correlation
What does it mean if there is no correlation?
There is no relationship between the two co-variables
0 represents no correlation
strengths of correlations?
provides a starting point for research
more time efficient (prevents time wasting on experiments)
strong face validity
quantitative results- easy to analyse, objective
weaknesses of correlations?
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)
