U2: Non- experimental methods Flashcards
What is an observation?
Watching the behaviour of participants
Name the types of observation
controlled
natural
participant
non-participant
covert
overt
What is a controlled observation?
Takes place in a structured environment where variables are controlled
Give an example of how a controlled observation may be set up
Using a two-way mirror to observe behavior in a controlled setup.
What is a strength of controlled observation?
Minimizes extraneous variables, allows for standardized procedures, and establishes cause-and-effect relationships.
what is a weakness of controlled observations
May lack ecological validity due to the artificial environment.
What is meant by a naturalistic observation?
Conducted in participants’ natural environment without intervention
Give an example of a natural observation
Observing shopping habits in a supermarket.
What is a strength of a natural observation?
High ecological validity
What is a weakness of natural observations
Difficult to control extraneous variables and replicate
What is meant by an overt observation
Participants are aware they are being observed.
What is a strength of overt
Ethical, as participants give consent.
What is a weakness of overt
Prone to demand characteristics.
What is a covert observation?
Participants are unaware they are being observed.
What is a strenght of covert
Reduces demand characteristics.
What is a weakness of covert
Raises ethical concerns about consent.W
what is a participant observation
The researcher actively participates in the group being studied.
What is a strength of participant observation
Provides deep insight and understanding of the group.
What is a weakness of participant observation
Researcher bias and ethical concerns.
What is a non-participant observation
The researcher observes from a distance without interacting.
What is a strength of non-participant observation
Reduces researcher influence on behavior.
What is a weakness of non-participant observation
May lack detailed insight.
What is meant by a self report
Participants share information about themselves in research
Name the self reports
quesitonnaires, interviews
What is a questionnaire
Participants answer a series of questions, which can be open-ended (qualitative data) or closed (quantitative data).
What is meant by qualitative data
written or spoken data
What is meant by quantitative dats
numerical data
What is a strength of the questionnaire
Efficient for large samples, less prone to investigator effects.
What is a weakness of a questionnaires
Limited clarification for participants, potential response bias.
what is an interview?
A conversation with participants about their behaviour
what types of interviews are there?
structured, semi-structured, unstructured
What is a structured interview
Pre-set questions are asked to all participants.W
What is a strength of a structured?
Easy to compare responses and identify patterns.
what is a weakness of a structured interview?
Inflexible; cannot explore new topics in depth.
What is a unstructured interview
Open-ended format allows exploration based on participants’ responses.
what is a strength of an unstructured interview
Provides in-depth understanding
What is a weakness of an unstructured interview
Difficult to analyze and replicate.
What is a case study
In-depth investigation of a single individual, group, or event over time.
What is a strength of case studies
Gathers rich qualitative and quantitative data; useful for rare phenomena.
What is a weakness of case studies
Difficult to generalize; potential retrospective bias.
What is a correlation
Examines the relationship between two co-variables without manipulation.
What types of correlations are there
Positive, negative, zero
what is a positive correlation
Both variables increase together.
What is a negative correlation
One variable increases while the other decreases.
What is a zero correlation
No relationship between variables.
What is a strength of correlations
Useful for studying sensitive issues; provides direction for further research.
What is a weakness of correlations
Cannot establish cause-and-effect; prone to misinterpretation.
What is a correlation coefficient
A numerical measure of the strength and direction of a correlation.
Ranges from -1 (strong negative) to +1 (strong positive), with 0 indicating no correlation.
