Research Methods (part 1)
A brief overview of research methods for psychology at as, bear with me i am in the making of them :-)
- Created by: lozza day
- Created on: 15-10-11 13:07
Introduction
you are expected to understand features of investigation design - the planning and construction of research methods.
RESEARCH METHODS can be defined as:
"the means by which explanations are tested"
Quantative and Qualitative
Quantitative methods:
- involved a measurement of numerical quantity
- e.g. the amount of 'yes' or 'no's' answered in a questionnaire
Qualitative methods:
- give participants the option to express & describe their answer more fully
- give a more in-depth answer
- e.g. during an interview, the participant may be asked for their opinion of a controversial subject
Laboratory Experiments
Laboratory Experiments take place in a controlled environment with random members of the public as participants.
two advantages:
- the equipment is precise and reliable
- the experiment can be repeated to check accuracy
two disadvantages:
- it is unrealistic and artificial - cannot be applied to real life situations
- the observers may be biased - 'experimental bias'
Field Experiments
Field Experiments are conducted in a natural environment, where the independant variable is manipulated. (for example, something may be place on a street to test reactions etc)
two advantages:
- the participants behaviour is natural - high ecological validity
- no demand characteristics as participants are unaware they are expected of anything
two disadvantages:
- can't control surrounding activity (e.g. weather)
- difficult to replicate - conditions are never exactly the same again
Natural Experiments
Natural Experiments are when the experiment is taken into natural surroundings, where the independant variable occures naturaly with no manipulation.
two advantages:
- results can be generalised as natural behaviour
- no demand characteristics as participants are unaware
two disadvantages:
- ethical issue - don't have the participants consent
- can't replicate the experiment
Correlational Analysis
Correlational Analysis measures the relationship behaviour between two variables to find a trend or pattern (positive, negative or no correlation), commonly on a graph.
two advantages:
- allows predictions
- easy to do (no manipulation of data)
two disadvantages:
- only works for linear relationships
- only works for extraneous relationships
Naturalistic Observations
Naturalistic Observations is when you measure naturally occuring observations - observers a voluntarily involved.
two advantages:
- high external validity - can be generalised
- practical method, no manipulation of people
two disadvantages:
- no control over other variables
- observers could be biased
Interviews
Interviews are 'face to face conversations', and they can be formal or informal.
two advantages:
- complex issues are best dealt with face to face, any misunderstandings can be sorted or explained
- easy to replicate
two disadvantages:
- some answers/responses may not be truthful
- interviewers have to be trained
Questionnaire Surverys
Questionnaire Surveys are 'self-reports', participants record their own answers to a pre-set list of questions.
two advantages:
- easy to replicate (can just print off x amount of copies)
- takes large samples
two disadvantages:
- low response rates
- biased samples (only a certain group of people may respond)
Case Studies
Case Studies are in-depth, detailed investigations of one individual or a small group.
two advantages:
- information relates to a single, real person
- provides a great depth of understanding
two disadvantages:
- no two case studies are a like, so they cannot be generalized
- they are dependent on participants having a clear and full memory
Variables
Independent Variable (IV) - the variable that is directly manipulated to see the effect it has on the DV
Dependent Variable (DV) - the variable that is measured, it is dependent on the IV
Extraneous Variables (EV) :D - variables that may have an effect on the DV, that can controlled (e.g. age of participants, time limits etc). we like EV's!
Confounding Variables (CV) :( - variables that may have an effect on the DV that can't be controlled (e.g. weather, mood of participants etc). we don't like CV's, they're 'confusing'
Reliability and Validity
definitions -
Pilot Study: 'small' scale practice run of experiment
Participant Variables: confounding effects from characteristics of participants
Situational Variables: confounding effects as a result of environmental influences
Experimenter Variables: confounding effects from experimenters themselves (if they are biased etc)
Reliability and Validity
Internal Reliability: within a single experiment, being consistent
External Reliability: getting the same results every time - compare with other studies
Internal Validity: the experiment is measuring what it's supposed to be measuring (no experimenter effects, no demand characteristics, use of standardised instructions)
External Validity: results can be applied to other people, time and place (the wider population)
Ecological Validity: the environment reflects the task (it's realistic)
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