research methods

• pros and cons of lab experiment

  control over extraneous variables

  highly standardised

  low ecological validity

  demand characteristics
• lab experiment

  the IV is manipulated in a controlled environment
• field experiment

  the IV is manipulated in a natural environment
• pros and cons of field experiment

  higher ecological validity

  less control over extraneous variables
• natural experiment

  IV not directly manipulated

  because it is predetermined or naturally occurring (not open to control)
• pros and cons of natural experiment

  more ethical

  difficult to match participants if the IV is already in place
• structured interview

  pre set, everyone is asked the same set of questions
• unstructured interview

  no set questions, asked based on responses
• pros and cons of interview

  can access thoughts and feelings

  they can clarify the meaning

  
  

  they could lie or exaggerate

  relies on people being able to explain thoughts and feelings
• pros and cons of closed questions

  quantitative data

  construct validity
• pros and cons of open questions

  qualitative data

  data difficult to analyse
• pros and cons of independent measures

  no order effects

  the same task can be used in both conditions

  differences between conditions could be due to participant variables

  more participants need to be recruited
• pros and cons of repeated measures

  comparisons are like for like

  fewer participants saves time and money

  boredom and fatigue effect

  practice effect

  demand characteristics

  task may need too be changed between conditions making it an extraneous variable
• pros and cons of questionnaire

  access thoughts and feelings

  survey large sample quickly

  easy to compare / look for patterns as they answer same questions

  may misunderstand questions

  unanswered questions / guesses

  doesn't consider individuals which affects validity