Research Methods - Experimental Methods - Flashcards in A Level and IB Psychology

What are experimental methods?

A research method which enables a researcher to manipulate the situation a person is in and see what effect it has on a person in order to test a theory to see if it’s correct. There are 3 types: laboratory, field and quasi.

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What are the strengths of experimental methods? (High Level of Control)

Offer a high level of control over extraneous variables which makes it easier to reliably establish a cause and effect

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What are the strengths of experimental methods? (cause and effect)

If cause and effect is established it is possible to predict and control behaviour making them highly scientific

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What are the strengths of experimental methods? (objective)

They’re objective because they are not easily influenced by the experimenter once set up therefore results are not bias.

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What are the limitations of experimental methods? (Laboratory)

Most are laboratory based meaning the environment is artificial, therefore findings lack ecological validity.

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What are the limitations of experimental methods? (Construct validity)

They are highly controlled and measure variables in precise ways which gives results that lack construct validity as they are assed more narrowly than they would be in real life.

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What are the limitations of experimental methods? (Demand Characteristics)

Participants are aware they are taking part in experiments therefore they may respond to the demand characteristics differently than normal.

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What are methods of self reports?

This is when the participant explains their views/ideas themselves, without the manipulation of variables. There are 3 key methods: questionnaires, structured interviews and unstructured interviews.

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What are the strengths of self report?

Unlike observations, it is possible to access people’s thoughts and feelings through asking questions Questions allow researchers to find out what people would do in certain situations without having to set them up.

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What are the weakness of self report? (methods of questioning)

Methods of questioning need participants to possess a number of qualities to be reliable. They can be ineffective if participants are dishonest, in articulate, lack confidence, lack insight or have poor memory

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What are the weakness of self report? (influence of researcher)

It is possible that participants’ responses are influenced by researchers when using interviews or questionnaires. They may feel pressured to give socially desirable responses.

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What are observational Studies?

These involve watching and recording people’s behaviour. This can be done in a number of ways including video recording and using a check list of criteria.

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What are the strengths of observational studies

Findings from observations are more reliable as the researchers can see for themselves how participants behave rather than relying on self-reports. Most observations take place in a natural setting so have high ecological validity

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What are the weaknesses of observational studies? (difficult to make judgements)

It is difficult to make judgements about thoughts and feelings when using this method as these features are not clearly observable.

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What are the weaknesses of observational studies? (Observer bias)

Observer bias can be a problem as the researcher may only perceive things from a certain perspective.

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What are the weaknesses of observational studies? (if they are aware)

If participants are aware they are being observed then they may act differently giving invalid results: this is known as observer effect.

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What are Correlation Studies?

These describe a process rather than an actual method. Correlation studies use methods such as self-report or an observation to collect data but it is how data is analysed which is important.

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What are the strengths of Correlation studies?

Correlations can establish the strength and direction of the relationship between variables. They allow researchers to statistically analyse naturally occurring phenomenon which could not be set up ethically or practically.

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What are the limitations of Correlation studies?

They cannot reliably establish cause and effect. Variables have to be quantified which means the measures may lack construct validity.

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What are case studies?

A study of a single individual or event using a range of sources too fain information. They provide a rich record of human experience but are hard to generalise from.

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What are the strength of Case Studies?

Offer high levels of validity as the go into depth and give insight. They allow researchers to study events that they could not practically or ethically manipulate. Case studies are efficient as it only takes one case study to disprove a theory.

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What are the limitations of a case study? (small sample)

Since case studies are based on small samples, it is difficult to generalise

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What are the limitations of a case study? (too close to the participant)

The researcher can become too involved in case studies and lose their objectivity. They may misinterpret or influence outcomes

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What are the limitations of a case study? (cause and effect)

Case studies are often picked up after the event so it can be difficult to establish cause and effect.

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Research Methods - Experimental Methods

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