Test #1

Question 1

Define laboratory experiments, field experiments, and natural experiments

Answer 1

Laboratory Experiments: Takes place in a highly controlled environment, it does not
have to be in a lab. Field Experiment:: Takes place in a more everyday setting but the
IV is still manipulated. Natural Experiments: The IV(s) occur naturally rather than
being manipulated by the researcher. Can be conducted in a lab or field setting.

Question 2

List one strength and one weakness for laboratory experiments

Answer 2

Strengths: High level of control of the IV and extraneous variables so we can
determine cause and effect. High internal validity. High replicability.
Weaknesses: Artificial so lacks generalisability (ecological validity/mundane realism).
Low external validity. Risk of demand characteristics.

Question 3

List one strength and one weakness for field experiments

Answer 3

Strengths: High mundane realism/ecological validity. High external validity
Weaknesses: Difficult to replicate. Less control of extraneous variables. Low internal
validity. Ethical issues could include consent and privacy.

Question 4

List one strength and one weakness for natural experiments

Answer 4

Strengths: Can be very useful in situations where you cannot manipulate the IV.
High mundane realism/ecological validity.
Weaknesses: Opportunities may only come along rarely. Participants may not be
randomly allocated to experimental conditions.

Question 5

Define open and closed questionnaire

Answer 5

Open: No fixed answers and respondents can answer freely. Tends to produce more
qualitative data. Closed: Fixed responses through Yes/No answers or Likert scales.
Produces quantitative data.

Question 6

List one strength and one weakness of open questionnaires

Answer 6

Strengths: Richer in-depth answers and so gain a better understanding of individual
responses.
Weaknesses: More difficult and time consuming to analyze. Takes longer to
administer.

Question 7

List one strength and one weakness of closed questionnaires

Answer 7

Strengths: Easier to analyze than qualitative data and quick to administer.
Weaknesses: Less depth of detail in answers. Response bias is more of an issue.

Question 8

Define structure, unstructured and semi-structured interview

Answer 8

Structure: Questions are pre-determined and in a fixed order. It is conducted face-to-
face or over the phone. Unstructured: No predetermined questions but a general
aim of the interview. The participant is encouraged to talk freely and expand on
answers. Semi-Structured: An interview format using a fixed list of open and closed
questions. The interviewers can add more questions if necessary.

Question 9

List one strength and one weakness of structured interview

Answer 9

Strengths: Easily repeated, easier to analyze than unstructured interviews. Less
chance of interviewer bias and higher inter-interviewer reliability
Weaknesses: Interviewers cannot deviate from the questions which reduces the
richness of their data.

Question 10

List one strength and one weakness of unstructured interview

Answer 10

Strengths: More detail than a structured interview as the interviewer can explore
different avenues of questioning.
Weaknesses: Expensive: Higher risk of interviewer bias and so requires well trained
interviewers. Analysis is more time-consuming and complex.`

Question 11

Define case study

Answer 11

A case study is an in-depth study that gathers a lot of details about one person or a
small group. It can use a variety of research methods e.g. interviews, observations or
experiments and is usually conducted over an extended period of time.

Question 12

List one strength and one weakness of correlations

Answer 12

Strengths: Rich and detailed data as it tends to be more qualitative. High ecological
validity. Avoids practical or ethical issues of studying more sensitive/impractical
behaviors in a laboratory.
Weakness: Lacks generalisability as it is only one person or a small group of people
and not representative of everyone. Difficult to replicate and is very time consuming
to conduct.

Question 13

Define correlation

Answer 13

A research method which looks for a causal relationship between two measured variables. A
change in one variable is related to a change in the other (although these changes cannot be
assumed to be causal).

Question 14

Define overt and covert observation

Answer 14

Overt: Participants know they are being observed and have given consent.
Covert: Participants do not know they are being observed.

Question 15

List one strength and one weakness of overt observation

Answer 15

Strength: More ethical as participants are aware that they are being studied.
Weakness: Increased demand characteristics.

Question 16

List one strength and one weakness of covert observation

Answer 16

Strength: Reduces demand characteristics. Increased internal validity.
Weakness: Could be unethical due to issues with consent, right to withdraw and
privacy.

Question 17

Define participant and nonparticipant observation

Answer 17

Participant: Researcher becomes part of the group they are studying.
Nonparticipant: The researcher remains separate from those that they are studying.

Question 18

List one strength and one weakness of participant observation

Answer 18

Strength: Increased insight. Increased external validity.
Weakness: Could lose objectivity (going native).

Question 19

List one strength and one weakness of non participant observation

Answer 19

Strength: More objective than participant.
Weakness: Might lose valuable insights as they are too far removed.

Question 20

Define structured and unstructured observation

Answer 20

Structured: A study in which the observer records only a limited range of behaviors.
Unstructured: A study in which the observer records the whole range of possible
behaviors, which is usually confined to a pilot stage at the beginning of a study to
refine the behavioral categories to be observed.

Question 21

Define naturalistic and controlled observation

Answer 21

Naturalistic: Behavior is studied in a natural environment where nothing is changed.
Controlled: Some variables are controlled by the researcher through manipulation or
by controlling extraneous or confounding variables. .

Question 22

List one strength and one weakness of naturalistic observation [

Answer 22

Strength: High external validity.
Weakness: Hard to replicate. Lack of control over variables.

Question 23

List one strength and one weakness of controlled controlled observation

Answer 23

Strength: Some variables are controlled by the researcher.
Weakness: Low external validity