Research methods:Non Experimental Methods

Question 1

Self report

Answer 1

Obtaining data by asking questions and recording their answers. Standardised set of questions given.

Question 2

Self report e.g.

Answer 2

Questionnaire

Interviews

Question 3

What is Observations and types

Answer 3

Involves watching ps and recording their behaviours. Naturalistic, Controlled

Question 4

Naturalistic observation

:) :(

Answer 4

Observing natural interactions 
No manipulation 
Not interfered with 
Less demand characteristics,high ecological validity 
Lack of informed consent

Question 5

Controlled/ lab observation

:) :(

Answer 5

Observing behaviour of ps in a controlled setting
Ps often know they’re being observed
Variables controlled by researcher
EVs controlled so high replicability
But demand characteristics, low ecological validity

Question 6

Observational techniques

Answer 6

Overt, covert, participant, non participant

Question 7

what is Overt observation

Answer 7

Ps aware they’re being observed
ZIMBARDO
No ethical issues
But Demand characteristics and Hawthorne effect

Question 8

what is Covert observation

Answer 8

Ps remain unaware of being observed
Festinger cult study
Limits demand characteristics
Lack of informed consent, difficult to record

Question 9

what is Participant observation

Answer 9

Observers actively involved in situation being observed, getting more hands on perspective
ZIMBARDO
Deeper understanding
Observer may influence behaviour, risk of bias

Question 10

what is Non participant

Answer 10

Observers not actively involved in behaviour being studied 
Watching from afar 
Ainsworth strange situation study
Open minded so objective
But Less understanding of behaviour

Question 11

what is Structured observation

Answer 11

Observers use various systems to organise observations. Behavioural charactertics which r operationalised e.g.
Checklists, event time sampling like tallies , rating scales

Question 12

what is Unstructured observation

Answer 12

Observers record all relevant behaviour,
has no system. Often used as pilot study.
Running record or Anecdotal/incidental record

Question 13

what is Case study

Answer 13

An in depth study that gathers a lot of detail about one person or small group
Usually longitudinal.
Range of sources : individuals, family, friends
Techniques: psychological tests, observations, interviews, experiments

Question 14

Case study :)

Answer 14

Rich, in depth qualitative data can be collected
Complex interaction of factors can be studied
Can study unique cases that might be unethical to manipulate

Question 15

Case study :(

Answer 15

Difficult to generalise - low population validity as each person has unique factors
Subjective - maybe affected by investigator bias - low internal validity
Difficult to replicate
Time consuming, difficult to analyse

Question 16

what is Content analysis

Answer 16

Form of observation but instead of people you study their communications instead like newspapers, TV adverts. The analysis of the content created by humans.

Question 17

Qualitative content analysis

Answer 17

Thematic analysis- to identify themes and patterns in data

1. Familiarisation - read and reread to gain meaning
2. Break data Into meaningful sections
3. Coding - break data into codes
4. Combines codes into larger generalised themes

Question 18

Quantitative content analysis

Answer 18

1. Sampling
2. Familiarise
3. Construct categories
4. Collect data - tally
5. Draw conclusion

Question 19

Content analysis :)

Answer 19

No social desirability / demand charactertics - improves internal validity
High mundane realism - high ecological validity cuz its already exists
High replicabiloty
No ethical issues cuz no ps

Question 20

Content analysis :(

Answer 20

Time consuming- incomplete analysis - affects internal validity
Identifying patterns only - no cause and effect
Observer bias - affects internal validity

Question 21

Improve validity of content analysis

Answer 21

Use double blind

Use clearly operationalised and defined codes/ categories

Question 22

Improve Reliability or content analysis

Answer 22

Have more than 1 observer
Use inter rater reliability
Use same coding sheet or behavioural categories s

Question 23

Types of Qs in questionnaires

Answer 23

Open qs: qualitative data - rich in detail, narrative. allows ps to answer however they want.
Closed Qs: quantitative data. restricts ps to predetermined set of responses. e.g. checklists, ranking scale.

Question 24

Questionnaires good and bad

Answer 24

can gain insight into peoples views, opinions and attitudes. can gather large amounts of data very easily. highly replicable. BUT self-reports subjective/biased, response set (always reply in same way without reading q), open questions difficult to analyse, low response rate.

Question 25

Design questionnaire

Answer 25

ensure qs are clear and unambiguous, avoid leading qs, filler qs can be used to mislead ps

Question 26

Steps in Questionnaire

Answer 26

1. Decide which attitudes/behaviours/traits you want to measure
2. Decide whether you want qualitative or quantitative data
3. Decide which sort of questions you will ask
4. Pilot and modify questionnaire
5. Collect data

Question 27

Interviews what is it

Answer 27

an interviewer asks questions verbally and ps respond verbally.

Question 28

Structured interview

Answer 28

Follows standardised qs

Question 29

Unstructured interview

Answer 29

Questions change and adapt to the conversation

Question 30

Interviews bad

Answer 30

Social desirability bias-giving answers that are politically correct, interview bias: interviewers show their own opinion which influences the answers. Difficult to analyse and compare unstructured interviews.

Question 31

Recording methods in interviews

Answer 31

1. wait until interview is over and write notes on ps responses - full attention given, but may forget details.
2. Take notes on ps responses during the interview. - everything recorded, distracting+time consuming
3. use tape recorder and transcribe ps responses later - full attention but misses non-verbal cues
4. use video camera and transcribe later - all info recorded but need to have consent.

Question 32

interviews good

Answer 32

can gain insight into attitudes, thoughts or feelings of ps. Unstructured - deeper understanding/more detail. Structured - replicable. Can assess nonverbal commubnication and verbal.

Question 33

Improve reliability of case studies by…

Answer 33

Using inter-observer reliability