research methods - nem2 Flashcards
what is a case study?
an in-depth investigation of a single individual, group or institution
what is a longitudinal study?
studies that take place over a long period of time
is a case study an experimental method?
no, case studies can use experimental or non-experimental methods to collect data
(eg: interview, questionnaire, memory test)
when are case studies used?
where there is a rare behaviour being investigated
what does a case study allow?
-it allows data to be collected and analysed on something that psychologists have very little understanding of
-it can be the starting point for further, more in-depth research
strengths of case studies:
-it offers the opportunity to unveil rich,
detailed information about a situation
-can be used in circumstances which would not be ethical to examine experimentall
criticisms of case studies:
-there are methodological issues associated with the use of case studies
↳ by only studying one individual, an isolated event or a small group of people it is very difficult to generalise any findings to the wider population
↳ this creates issues with external validity as psychologists are unable to conclude with confidence that anyone beyond the ‘case’ will behave in the same way under similar circumstances, thus lowering population validity
-in case studies, particularly where qualitative methods are used, the
researcher’s own subjectivity may pose a problem
↳ eg: in the little hans case study, freud developed an entire theory based around what he observed
↳ there was no scientific or experimental evidence to support his suggestions from his case study, we can’t be sure that he objectively reported his findings
↳ research bias and subjectivity can interfere with the validity of the findings/conclusions
Patient X is a gynotikolobomassophobic - he has a morbid fear of women’s ear lobes. His fear is so extreme that Patient X finds it impossible to talk to women in social situations (unless their ears are covered) and spends much of his time alone in his home.
A psychologist carrying out a case study of Patient X has conducted detailed interviews with him about his childhood. Patient X has also been encouraged to keep a diary as a record of his everyday experiences. The psychologist has concluded that Patient X’s phobia may have been the result of childhood trauma.
…
What are the main features of a case study? Refer to Patient X as part of your answer.
Case studies look at the individual in detail, in this case Patient X.
They can delve into Patient X’s past to see when he may have developed this fear through interviews with him and his family and by using medical records as well as diary entries.
Patient X could be looked at over a period of time to see if there are any changes in his behaviour.
what ethical issues are associated with the case study approach?
there are ethical issues such as confidentiality. many cases are easily identifiable even if real names are not given because of their unique characteristics.
it is important to retain anonymity because the subject of the case study may feel embarrassed if people can identify him or he might be treated badly by people who read about his case. this might lead to psychological harm.
what is a content analysis?
a type of observational technique which involves studying people indirectly, through qualitative data
what qualitative data can be used during a content analysis?
qualitative data in a range of formats:
-video or audio recordings (or the interview transcripts)
-written responses (such as those provided to an open question in a questionnaire)
-children’s drawing
what’s important for a content analysis?
-researchers must have theory research questions formulated, so that they know exactly what their content analysis will focus on
-researchers should familiarise themselves with the data before conducting any
analysis, so that they are confident that their coding system is appropriate
what is coding in a content analysis?
-the researcher develops categories for the data to be classified and then counts the number of responses in each category
benefits of coding:
-coding can be helpful in reaching succinct conclusions about the data
-categories provide a framework to convert the qualitative material into quantitative
data, which can then be used for further (statistical) analysis
strengths of content analysis:
-helps to classify responses in a way that is systematic → clear conclusions can be drawn
-helpful when conducting research that would otherwise be considered unethical
↳ any data that has already been released into the public domain is available for analysis, meaning that consent is not
required
-for material that is of a sensitive nature, a
content analysis can also be useful as ppts can write a report of their experience which can then be used in analysis
↳ high quality data to be collected even in difficult circumstances
criticisms of content analysis:
-content analysis’s can produce findings that are very subjective
↳ the researcher may interpret some things said in an interview in a completely
different manner from how they were intended, due to their own preconceptions,
judgements or biases
-cultural differences may contribute to inconsistent interpretation of behaviour coding since language may be translated and therefore interpreted differently by someone of a different nationality
↳ the validity of findings from a content analysis can be questioned since it may not have been measuring what it intended to with accuracy
what is a thematic analysis?
a technique that helps identify themes throughout qualitative data
what is a theme?
an idea or a notion:
-it can be explicit (such as stating that you feel depressed)
-or implicit (for example, using the metaphor of a black cloud for feeling
depressed)
what do themes identify?
recurrent ideas
why are themes better than codes?
they are more descriptive than coding units
what does a thematic analysis produce?
qualitative data
