Research Methods Sub sctn 1 Flashcards
4 experimental methods
-Lab experiments
-Field experiments
-Natural experiments
-Quasi Experiment
non-experimental methods
-correlation
-observation
-self report: questionnaire and interview
-Case studies
-content analysis
what is a lab experiment
-in controlled environment = lab
-IV controlled to see how manipulates DV
Evaluate lab experiment
(+) Control over extraneous variables
(-) Demand characteristics
(-) low ecological validity
what is a field experiment
-Not set in a lab
set in outside world
-IV controlled
evaluate field experiment
(+) higher ecological validity
(+) lower demand characteristics
(-)Less control overt extraneous variables
what is a natural experiment
-Usually happens in real world
-IV not manipulated, happens naturally
evaluate natural experiment
(+) higher ecological validity
(+) lower demand characteristics
(-)Less control overt extraneous variables
what is a Quasi experiment
-Almost an experiment
-IV happens naturally, not manipulated by anyone
Eg: age, personality
evaluate quasi experiment
(+) usually takes place in controlled conditions
(-)Random allocation not possible- confounding variables may arise
What are correlations
-Relationship between 2 sets of data
- uses co-variables
positive, negative, no correlation
-correlation coefficient can be -1 to 0 to 1
-Displayed on scatter graph
Evaluate correlations
(+) Identifies relationship, [provide] way for new research
(+)uses quantitative data, so easy to measure, summaries
(-) cannot infer direction of cause and effect
(-)other variables may mediate between the relationship, (e.g smoking, drinking = stress)
(-)correlation does not = causation
what are interviews
-p.p asked question face to face
what type of questions can be asked and what type of interviews can be
-can be open or closed but usually open to maximize info gained
can be Structured = pre organised questions
unstructured = no pre organised, as psychologist knows what topic theyre interested in and make up q’s as they go along.
evaluate interviews
(+)Rich, detailed data, in depth
(+) can be standardized and replicated
(+)build rapport with p.p
(+) Researcher present so can clarify q’s give prods
(-) SDB
(-) interviewer bias
what are questionairres
-set of questions designed to collect info about a specific topic
-done on paper or online
-p.p answer themselves
what are open and closed questions
open = Explain…. describe ….
Provide own answer
Closed = a range of answers which p.p select = tick boxes , Likert scales
what to do and not to do when making a questionnaire
Do = -relevant q’s - Clear - Filler questions to reduce Demand characteristics
Don’t = -2 questions in one - use leading questions
-use unambiguous language
Evaluate questionnaire
(+) Collect info from large group
(+) standardised
(+)Can access peoples thoughts from own P.O.V
(+) confidential
(-)SDB
(-)Questions can be interpreted differently
(-) Researcher is not present
What are observations
-Watching + recording behaviour
what are the ytypes of observation
naturalistic vs Controlled
Overt vs Covert
participant vs non-participant
how is behaviour recorded during observations
via behaviour category sytems
= tally expected behaviours
what are the different types of behaviors and how are they sampled
Discontinuous = Event sampling = sample every time it happens
Continuous = Time sampling = choose time interval and count each time the behavior is being shown at each interval
what is a covert observatiom
-p.p unaware that their behaviour is the focus of the study
-Done in secret
evauluate observations
(+) inter rater reliability can be checked
(+) can be ecologically valid
(-) Observer bias = researcher sees what they want to see rather than actual behavior
(-)Practical issues = BCS is hard to make mutually exclusive + clear
|Attention issues, time issues , ethic issues
What are case studies
Methods used:
-1 person or small group
-longitudinal
-unique behaviour
Methods used:
-observations
-questionnaire
-interview
-tests
-content analysis
evaluate case studies
(+) Rich, detailed
(+) Allows psychologist to study behaviour that is usually unethical to manipulate
(-)Limited sample so can’t generalise
(-)Susceptible to researcher bias = because of time and effort devoted to one person
What is content analysis (not the procedure)
-Analyses qualitative data
-acquired through media
-Indirect observation
-involves counting / tallying
procedure of content analysis
1)observe small section of media you are interested in (e.g 5 mins of a film clip)
2) Use this to decide behaviour categories to code entire data
3)Read/watch data
4)tTally in behaviour categories while watching/reading media
5)Compare + draw conclusions
-Describe findings quantitatively or qualitatively
Evaluate content analysis
(+) high ecological validity
(+)Can be replicated to test reliability
(+)Can check inter-rater reliability
(-)Observer bias
(-)behaviour systems may be faulty causing invalid results
waht is a meta analysis
-Collection of studies on same topic
-findings combined, conclusions drawn
evauluate meta analysis
(+)Large sample so generalisable
(-) Stuudies may have different levels of control / different procedures
what is a pilot study
-small scale study to ‘check factors’ such as:
-ethics
-procedures are feasible
-materials are of high quality
-Materials are effective
-variables operationalised effectively
Issues can then be rectifies before real thing
How to calculate inter rater reliability (procedure)
0)At least 2 observers
1)Ensure you have same behaviour coding systems
2)carry out observations independently
3) calculate % similarity (large no. / smaller no. x 100)
4) If you get 80% + , you have IRR
5)Plot observation score on a scattergraph
6)positive correlation = IRR
7) Use of stats test to find coefficient
