T4 quiz rev

• True experiment


  The researcher manipulates or randomly allocates the independent variable.
• True experiment strengths


  Well controlled

  Cause and Effect established

  Easily replicated

  Variables Quantified
• True experiment limitations


  Demand characteristics

  Low ecological validity

  Researcher effects

  Samples may not be representative
• Quasi experiment


  A qualitative method in which the researcher observes what happens to the DV.

  The IV is to be changed naturally or not change at all as it is not ethical. Often conducted in the natural environment.

  Variables cannot be randomly allocated.
• Quasi experiment strengths


  Natural environment

  High ecological validity

  Produces valuable data
• Quasi experiment limitations


  No cause and effect established.

  Lack of control over variables

  Lack of control over IV

  No random sampling
• Case Study


  An in-depth and detailed study of an individual or small group using a variety of methods.

  Usually longitudinal - months even years

  Often used for unusual examples of behaviour
• Case study strengths


  Provide rich, in-depth, qualitative data

  Can study phenomenon not otherwise able to be studied

  Enables insights into social processes in a group

  Stimulates new research

  Helps establish new theories
• Case study limitations


  Researcher bias

  Effects of social desirability

  Memory distortions
• Survey


  Involves closed questions collecting the same type of data (quantitative) from a large number of people.

  Descriptive surveys -> describe characteristics of population being studied

  Analytic surveys -> looks at relationships between variables
• Questionnaires


  List of pre-set Qs, open or closed (qualitative and quantitative).

  Closed Qs -> quantifiable BUT limit participant choice in response

  Open Qs -> participants provide own responses; good for asking opinions BUT difficult to quantify
• Surveys & questionnaires strengths


  Large samples improves generalisability

  Quantitative data - objective

  Replication easy

  time & money
• Surveys & questionnaires limitations


  Response rate often low

  Limitations on response - forced choice

  Ambiguity of questions

  Demand characteristics

  Social desirability effects

  Sensitive areas
• Unstructured interviews


  Like a conversation

  Informal -> relaxed & friendly atmosphere

  Non-directive -> participant directs responses to a particular topic; researcher must avoid asking leading Q's

  In-depth -> delve more deeply into participant's attitudes, beliefs & feelings
• Unstructured interview strengths


  Respondent's viewpoint

  Qualitative data

  Developing answers

  Sensitive areas -> with rapport
• Unstructured interview limitations


  Interviewer effects

  Lack of comparable data

  Lack of quantitative data

  Replication

  Generalisation
• Semi-structured interviews


  A qualitative research method

  Combines predetermined set of open questions with the opportunity for the interview to explore particular themes or responses further.
• Semi-structured interviews strengths


  flexibility
• Focus group interview


  A group interview that is used to study what a specific group of people think or feel about a topic.
• Focus group interview strengths

  Collecting data quicker and convenient

  High ecological validity (natural setting compared to 1v1)

  Participants are the focus, not researcher

  Interaction between participants may prompt relevant ideas that may not be attained from 1v1 interviews
• Focus group limitations


  Not appropriate for all research questions

  Sensitive topics may not be disclosed by participants

  Ethical concern -> participants may not keep info confidential

  Presence of other participants may prompt conformity / other group dynamics

  Participants may be difficult to facilitate

  Data may be difficult to analyse
• Non-participant observation

  The observation of naturalistic behaviours in a natural environment.

  No IV or behaviour is manipulated.

  Can be separated into overt or covert study.
• Covert advantages


  Participants behave normally -> valid, credible data

  Rich, in-depth data
• Covert disadvantages


  Hard to record information

  Unethical

  Researcher may influence

  No cause and effect established
• Overt advantages


  Rich, in-depth data

  More ethical

  Easier to record
• Overt disadvantages


  May change participant's behaviours

  No cause and effect
• Validity


  The accuracy of the results
• Reliability


  The consistency of the results.

  Not necessarily accuracy
• Random sampling


  Quantitative experiment
• Stratified sampling


  Quantitative experiment
• Opportunity sampling


  Qualitative experiment
• Self-selecting sampling


  Qualitative experiment
• Internal validity


  Can establish that the manipulation of the IV lead to changes in the DV, and is not caused by extraneous variables.
• External validity


  Results obtained from the study can be applied to situations outside the lab.
• Experimental design


  How participants are allocated to different groups / conditions
• Independent measures


  Randomly allocated with different participants in each group.
• Independent measures strengths


  Order effects do not influence second condition

  Demand characteristics are reduced

  Same test can be used
• Independent measures limitations


  Variables differ / cofounding

  Worse statistical tests due to variation

  More participants required
• Repeated measures


  Use the same group for each condition, usually tested with a gap between conditions tested.
• Repeated measures strengths


  Variables kept constant between conditions

  Better statistical tests

  Fewer participants required