OCR AS Psychology: Core Studies - Individual Differences Approach (2)

Rosenhan/Griffiths: Similarities: They're both ecologically valid as they were conducted in a real environment. For example, Griffiths' study was carried out in an actual amusemnt arcade in the UK and on a typicak fruit machine which of course improved the ecological validity of the study. Similarly, Rosenhan conducted the study in a real environment, and was thus fairly ecologically valid whislt still managing to control many variables such as the pseudo patients' behaviour.Differences: They both used different research methods to conduct their studies. For example Rosenhan used a participant observation of which he was also a part of the sample and it allowed the pseudo-patients to experience the ward from the patient's perspectives while mainting some degree of objectivity. Whereas, Griffiths used a quasi-experimental method as participants were either RGs or NRGs.

Rosenhan/Thigpen & Cleckley: Similarities: They both used self-reports to gather their data which allowed for comparisons to be made. For example, in Rosenhan's study the pseudo-patients wrote notes about their observations of the other ward patients. Similarly, T&C used a variety of Quan/Qual measures to measure Eve's different personalities (such as IQ scores and EEG readings) and data collected in the interviews.Differences: They both used different research methods to collect their data. For example, Rosenhan used a participant observation of which he was also a part of the sample and it allowed the pseudo-patients to experience the ward from the patient's perspectives while mainting some degree of objectivity. Whereas, T&C used a longitudinal case study which allowed the researchers to see the development of Eve's personalities over time.