Paper 3 - RM :(

• Qualitative? Examples?

  Data not in numerical form, usually written.

  
  

  Case study

  Natural observation

  Interviews

  - unstructured, semi-structured and focus groups.
• Quantitative? Examples?

  Data in numerical form, usually numbers and data.

  
  

  Experiments

  Field experiments

  Quasi-experiments

  Natural experiments

  Correlation research

  Surveys
• Types of experiments?

  Lab, field, natural, quasi
• Characteristics of lab

  Standardised procedure

  Operationalised variables.

  Highly controlled conditions.

  Participants randomly allocated to IV group (matched, repeated and independent).

  Manipulate IV to measure DV.

  Artificial setting.

  
  

  Quantitative
• Characteristics of field

  Natural setting.

  Standardised procedure.

  Operationalised variables.

  Manipulate IV to measure DV.

  Controlled conditions.

  Participants randomly allocated to IV groups.

  
  

  Quantitative.
• Characteristics of natural

  Conducted in everyday settling for the participants.

  IV occurs naturally in real life.

  Researcher cannot manipulate IV so DV measured.

  Participants cannot be randomly allocated to experimental groups.

  
  

  Quantitative.
• Difference between quasi and natural experiments?

  Quasi - experiment is selected by the researcher.

  Natural - experiment occurs naturally without researcher.
• Characteristics of quasi?

  Participants are not randomly allocated to experimental groups.

  IV cannot be randomly assigned.

  IV is an innate characteristic of the participant (e.g., age).

  Combined with other methods (e.g., lab).

  
  

  Quantitative.
• Characteristics of correlation research?

  Looks for relationship between 2 covariables.

  Does not manipulate variables.

  +/- or no correlation.

  Results can be put on a graph.

  Calculate a concordance rate.

  
  

  Quantitative.
• Characteristics of surveys/questionnaire?

  Series of questions to gather information.

  Written interview.

  Carried out face-to-face, online, or post.

  Close (quant) or open (qual) questions.

  
  

  Quantitative.
• Types of observations?

  Covert - participants don't know they are being watched.

  Overt - participants know they are being watched.

  Participant - researcher acts as a participant.

  Non-participant - researcher does not act like a participant.
• General characteristics of an observation?

  Watching participants behaviour in a natural environment.

  Record data by filming or writing what you observe.
• Characteristics of a covert observation?

  Watching participants.

  Under cover.

  Researcher identity hidden.

  Purpose of study kept hidden from participants.
• Characteristics of overt observation?

  Watching participants.

  Participants know they are being watched.
• Characteristics of participant observation?

  Watching participants.

  Researcher part of group.
• Characteristics of non-participant observation?

  Watching participants.

  Researcher not part of group.
• Different types of interviews?

  Unstructured, semi-structured and focus group.
• Characteristics of unstructured interview?

  Questions are not prearranged and can be added whenever throughout the interview.

  Open ended questions.

  Questions asked in any order.
• Characteristics of semi-structured interview?

  Questions asked to participants by researcher.

  Interview structure planned beforehand (8-10 questions planned).

  Open-ended questions for detailed responses.
• Characteristics of focus group?

  Group of people to talk about specific topic/subject.

  Participants discuss between themselves.

  Environment is non-threatening.

  Participants interact and influence others.
• Characteristics of case study?

  In-depth investigation into person, small group or community.

  Triangulation used to provide rich and detailed info.

  Research into events of the individual/groups past or present.
• What are all types of sampling methods?

  Random, opportunity, volunteer, purposive and snowball
• Characteristics of opportunity sampling?


  Sample is convenient to researcher (e.g., individuals which are available at the time).

  Researcher looks for specific type of person (age, gender, race) and only picks people who look like that.

  Taken from target pop.
• Characteristics of random sampling?

  Allows every member of the target pop a chance of being selected.

  Sample frame to identify every member.

  Random method used to select sample (e.g., pull names out of a hat).
• Characteristics of a purposive sampling? +/-?

  Participants chosen because they have certain characteristics.

  Sampling for a purpose - research wanted in area.

  
  

  +

  can target certain groups.

  
  

  -

  Ungeneralisable - same characteristics.

  Bias - researchers pick participants.
• Characteristics of snowball sampling? +/-?

  Starts with 1 or 2 participants where they recruit more participants for researcher through social network.

  Used when target pop is rare or difficult.

  
  

  +

  Useful to research hard issues.

  Reduces effort (time + money).

  
  

  -

  Bias - participants social network.

  Anonymity - lack due to social network; knowing people.

  Ungeneralisability - same characteristics.
• Characteristics of volunteer sampling? +/-?

  Participants volunteer and select themselves to participate.

  Recruited online or on newspaper adverts.

  
  

  +

  Convenient for researchers (time, money, and effort).

  Participants give consent.

  
  

  -Volunteer bias - participants all have the same characteristics (extroverted).
• Why would you use a lab study + strengths?

  - To measure something hard to measure. If it is unethical to use a different RM with less controls. Used if researchers need to control variables.

  
  

  +

  Measures cause and effect. Easy to replicate due to high controls.
• Why would you use a field study + strengths?

  - Insight into natural behaviour while controlling some behaviour.

  
  

  +

  Ecological validity and less demand characteristics.
• Why would you use a natural study + strengths?

  - Used when controlled experiments are not possible (e.g., natural disasters).

  
  

  +

  Ecological validity and measures naturally occurring events where IV cannot be manipulated.
• Why would you use a quasi study + strengths?

  - Used when naturally occurring variables are unethical to manipulate.

  
  

  +

  Data more naturalistic due to naturally occuring variables. High ecological validity and less researcher bias.
• Different types of observations?

  Overt, covert, participant, non-participant, naturalistic and controlled.
• why would you use a covert observation + strengths?

  - Study groups difficult to study.

  
  

  +

  Collect data which would usually be impossible.

  High ecological validity and low demand characteristics.
• why would you use a overt observation + strengths?

  - Study groups through interactions with them.

  
  

  +

  Allows participants to be informed and consent to be given. Can be a form of data triangulation (e.g., interview).
• Why would you use participant observations + strengths?

  - Good if you want to interact with participants.

  
  

  +

  Detailed information, no researcher bias.
• Why would you use non-participant observations + strengths?

  - Investigate something where it is not possible to interact with participants.

  
  

  +

  Easy to collect and can be cross-checked with other researchers. No researcher bias.
• Why would you use a naturalistic observation + strengths?

  - To keep behaviour as natural as possible and isn't possible to set anything up.

  
  

  +

  Ecological validity as researcher observing something naturally occurring. High credibility and theory development - test something in a more controlled setting.
• Why would you use a controlled observation + strengths?

  - Good when you want to set something up to research topic.

  
  

  +

  Controlled - researcher decided when and where it takes place as well as who the participants are. Standardised procedure - reliability. Avoids ethical problems (e.g., consent).
• Types of interviews?

  Unstructured, semi-structures and focus groups.
• Why would you use a semi-structured interview + strengths?

  - Need flexibility but have some idea of questions you want to ask.

  
  

  +

  Allows rapport to be built with participants. Complex questions answered. Easy to record.