Research Methods - Types Of Research Methods

Question 1

What are the three main types of research methods?

Answer 1

1. Lab
2. Field
3. Quasi

Question 2

What is a strength of lab experiments?

Answer 2

Cause and effect can be established

Question 3

What is a weakness of lab experiments?

Answer 3

It is less ecologically valid

Question 4

What is a strength of field experiments?

Answer 4

More ecologically valid

Question 5

What is a weakness of field experiments?

Answer 5

Lacks control and it is hard to establish what the cause is

Question 6

What is a strength of quasi experiments?

Answer 6

It allows us to study the effects of variables that psychologists can’t manipulate

Question 7

What is a weakness of quasi experiments?

Answer 7

There is no control over confounding variables

Question 8

What is an IV?

Answer 8

Variable that is manipulated

Question 9

What is a DV?

Answer 9

A variable that is measured

Question 10

What is an observation?

Answer 10

It involves watching a ppt and recording relevant behaviour

Question 11

What are the 8 types of observation?

Answer 11

1. Unstructured
2. Structured
3. Covert
4. Overt
5. Ppt observer
6. Non-ppt observer
7. Naturalistic
8. Controlled

Question 12

Where are naturalistic observations carried out?

Answer 12

In the field (natural setting)

Question 13

What is a positive and negative of naturalistic observation?

Answer 13

Positive = observe natural behaviour so more valid 
Negative = lack of control and difficult to establish cause

Question 14

What happened in a controlled observation?

Answer 14

Psychologists control all the factors that might alter the behaviour and therefore hide the behaviour caused by the IV

Question 15

What is a positive and negative of controlled observations?

Answer 15

Positive = setting is standardised so easier to establish cause 
Negative = the situation is artificial and so lacks ecological validity

Question 16

What is participant observation?

Answer 16

Where the observer is a part of, or pretending to be a part of the group they’re observing

Question 17

What are some positives and negatives of participant observations?

Answer 17

Positives = more insight into experiment, detailed information 
Negatives = presence may alter behaviour, observer bias

Question 18

What is non-participant observation?

Answer 18

Where the observer is not a part of the group they’re observing

Question 19

What is a positive and negative of non-participant observation?

Answer 19

Positive = objective 
Negative = less insight

Question 20

What happens in an unstructured observation?

Answer 20

The observer records everything that happens (behaviour)

Question 21

What are some positives and negatives of unstructured observation?

Answer 21

Positives = clear overall view of what is going on 
Negatives = data too dense and hard to summaries, also difficult to summaries

Question 22

What happens in a structured observation?

Answer 22

Observers record specific behaviours which meet the aim of the observation

Question 23

What are some positives and negatives of structured observation?

Answer 23

Positives = allows comparisons, trends in data can be found 
Negatives = at risk of missing behaviour

Question 24

What is a covert observation?

Answer 24

When the participant (person being observed) does not know they’re being observed

Question 25

What is a positive and negative of covert observation?

Answer 25

Positive = natural behaviour can be observed (no demand characteristics) 
Negative = ethnically issues as it is hard to get consent, also invasion of privacy

Question 26

What is an overt observation?

Answer 26

Where the participant (the person being observed) knows that they’re being observed

Question 27

What are some positives and negatives of overt observations?

Answer 27

Positives = no ethical issues
Negatives = demand characteristics, social desirability (not real behaviour)