Types of Study

Question 1

Sample Techniques

Answer 1

• People cannot investigate all the participants
• Take a sample of them to investigate
• whole population is called target population
• aim to choose representative sample

Question 2

Random Sample

Answer 2

Each member of the subset has an equal probability of being chosen. A simple random sample is meant to be an unbiased representation of a group

Question 3

Systemic Sample

Answer 3

Sample members from a larger population are selected according to a random starting point and a fixed, periodic interval.

Question 4

Opportunity Sample

Answer 4

The sample being drawn from that part of the population that is close to hand

Question 5

Case study

Answer 5

In depth study of all aspects of a single participant/groups

Question 6

Case Study - strengths

Answer 6

Can provide information on topics that are unethical or impractical to investigate via experiments e.g. suicide, abuse, provide descriptions of behaviour

Question 7

Case study - weaknesses

Answer 7

uncontrolled form of data collection and psychologists prefer controlled forms of data collections and cannot always help explain why things happen

Question 8

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 8

Observing people’s behaviour within a natural setting

Question 9

Naturalistic Observation - strengths

Answer 9

Results have real world significance

Question 10

Naturalistic observation - weaknesses

Answer 10

bias - the observer see’s what they expect to see, they are selective in their recording

Question 11

Longitudinal Studies

Answer 11

involves repeated observation of participants over a period of time - several days, weeks, months, years. Data is collected at the outset of a period and then it is repeated and collected at various points in the study

Question 12

Longitudinal Studies - strengths

Answer 12

Can develop understanding of abilities and trends over time

Question 13

Longitudinal Studies - weaknesses

Answer 13

Can require an enormous amount of time, can be expensive, often only a small amount of people participate, therefore it is hard to generalize the results to a wider population. At times people choose to drop out of the study or die

Question 14

Twin Studies

Answer 14

Certain characteristics of twins are compared in order to determine differences and similarities

Question 15

Twin studies - strengths

Answer 15

Allows psychologists to understand the role that genetics and the environment has upon behaviour and can develop understanding of abilities and trends over time

Question 16

Twin Studies - weaknesses

Answer 16

Distinction between environmental factors and genetic influences may not be as clear as twin studies assume and cannot generalize results to rest of the population. Has a history of being inhumane and can only describe not explain

Question 17

Surverys

Answer 17

Public polling techniques are used to get a number of people to answer psychological questions

Question 18

Surveys - strengths

Answer 18

Quick and easy way to collect a great deal of information and can measure attitudes, motives and opinions of participants

Question 19

Surveys - weaknesses

Answer 19

The wording effect - how techniques are worded and ordered can influence their answers. Results of the surveys will not be valid if the survey group isn’t representative of the wider population. They rely in the honesty of the participants and only describe behaviour, do not explain

Question 20

Introspection

Answer 20

Self-observation

Question 21

Introspection - strengths

Answer 21

Used to gain insight on memory, learning processes and problem solving

Question 22

Introspection - weaknesses

Answer 22

Depends on the honesty of the participants and participants will have gaps in their knowledge of themselves

Question 23

Covert Observations

Answer 23

Those is which the observer is hidden or at least blends in with the society. Doesn’t affect behaviour of those being observed

Question 24

Overt Observations

Answer 24

One in which the observer makes themselves known to the people being observed