research methods studies

Question 1

Opinion

Answer 1

An opinion is a point of view that is not necessarily based on verifiable evidence and are disputable.

Question 2

Evidence

Answer 2

Evidence derived from scientific research differs from evidence based on opinion or anecdote.

Question 3

Anecdote

Answer 3

An anecdote is an informal verbal report of an event that has been casually observed.
Anecdotes tend to be accepted as useful information but are not based on scientific evidence and are therefore considered to be scientifically inadequate

Question 4

Drawing conclusions

Answer 4

A conclusion is a decision about what the results obtained from a research investigation mean.
All conclusions must be based on and be consistent with the results and take into account of the quality of the evidence and potential limitations of the research.

Question 5

Generalisations

Answer 5

In research, a generalization is a decision about how widely the results of an investigation can be applied, particularly to other members of the population from which the sample was drawn

Question 6

Correlational Studies

Answer 6

Planned observation and recording of events and behaviours that have not been manipulated or controlled to understand the relationships/associations that exist between variables, to identify which factors may be of greater importance and to make predictions.

Question 7

Correlational Studies strengths and limitations

Answer 7

STRENGTHS-
-can be conducted outside artificial laboratory situations where the results may be more realistic.
-useful for discovering relationships between variables
-identify if variables are more or less important.
LIMITATIONS- do not permit the researcher to draw firm conclusions about cause and effect relationships
may suggest or point to possible causes but they cannot demonstrate cause. due to not legitimate research methods for studying causality.

Question 8

Interviews

Answer 8

An interview involves questions that are asked by the researcher with the intention of prompting and obtaining specific information from an individual
participant (the ‘interviewee’).

Question 9

Interviews strengths and limitations

Answer 9

strengths- quick, flow and personal connection
limitations- time-insensitive, small sample size (hard to make generalisations), experimenter variable

Question 10

Questionnaires

Answer 10

A questionnaire is a written set of questions or other prompts designed to draw out self-report information from participants on a topic of research interest.

Question 11

Questionnaire strengths and limitations

Answer 11

Strengths- anonymity, large sample size, generalise, consistency in data.
Limitations- susceptible to lying due to social desirability, lack of depth and insight, not complete,

Question 12

Observational Studies

Answer 12

involves the collection of data by carefully watching and recording behaviour as it occurs without any intervention or manipulation of the behaviour being observed.

Question 13

Observational Studies strengths and limitations

Answer 13

strengths- can watch and record spontaneous, everyday behaviour without the need for manipulation or intervention.
-types of human behaviour can only be studied as they naturally occur because it would be unethical and impractical to study them in lab settings.
-no need for cooperation but raises ethical implications of informed consent.
weaknesses-
-not influenced by perceptions that can form artificial contrived environments and lead them to behave abnormally.
-observer bias- researchers unconsciously distort what they see so that it resembles what they hope to see.

Question 14

Self Reports

Answer 14

is a participant’s answers to questions
presented by the researcher (APA, 2022). For example, a self-report may be a response to questions about their beliefs or attitudes, feelings when experiencing certain emotions, how they behave in different situations, and so on. Answers may be spoken, in writing, or both.

Question 15

Case Studies

Answer 15

An in depth investigation of a particular person, small group, activity, behavior or event that contains a real or hypothetical situation.

Question 16

Case Studies strengths and limitations

Answer 16

Strengths-
-depth of analysis and richness of the data
-can be a valuable source of hypotheses for further research for data to support theory building or challenge a theory’s assumption
limitations-
-cannot test or establish a cause-effect relationship as does a controlled experiment.
-no single individual experiment - doesn’t involve manipulation of any iv.
- small sample size.

Question 17

Simulation studies

Answer 17

involve reproducing situations of research interest in a realistic way to investigate the behaviour and/or mental processes of individuals in that environment.

Question 18

Simulation studies strengths and limitations

Answer 18

strengths-
-can be used to conduct experiments in social and other environments that investigators can’t easily access.
limitations-
-simulation environments are artificial and thus the studies may lack realism.
-participants know the environment is fake and interferes with their behaviour
-difficult to generalise results.

Question 19

Controlled experiments

Answer 19

a scientific test done under controlled conditions

Question 20

Controlled experiments strengths and limitations

Answer 20

strength- ensure no errors or extraneous variables
weakness- might lack external validity