Quantitative and Qualitative

• What do quantitative methods of research measure?

  Amounts of behaviour using numeric values
• What do qualitative methods of research measure?

  Qualities of behaviour resulting in descriptive data
• What are the main types of interviews used in research?

  1. Structured interviews

  • Pre-prepared questions, same order

  1. Unstructured interviews

  • Few prepared questions, conversational

  1. Semi-structured interviews

  • Mix of prepared and organic questions
• What is the main purpose of interviews in research?

  To learn about human behaviour through self-report
• What is a structured interview?

  Interviews with a fixed list of questions
• How do unstructured interviews differ from structured interviews?

  They allow for free conversation and new questions
• What characterizes semi-structured interviews?

  They combine prepared questions with organic follow-ups
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of interviews?

  Strengths:

  • Produce extensive information
  • Useful for illiterate participants

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Quality of questioning affects data
  • Difficult to analyze qualitative data
  • Potential for bias in conclusions
• What is a key strength of interviews?

  They provide extensive information on behaviour
• Why might interviews be difficult to analyze?

  Qualitative data can be disparate and complex
• What is a weakness of self-report techniques like interviews?

  Participants may not tell the truth
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of questionnaires?

  Strengths:

  • Collect large amounts of data quickly
  • Easily replicated for reliability
  • Suitable for large samples
  • Easier to analyze than interviews

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Social desirability bias may affect validity
  • Time-consuming to prepare
  • May include leading questions
• What is a key strength of questionnaires?

  They collect large amounts of data quickly
• What is a potential issue with self-report questionnaires?

  Participants may provide socially desirable answers
• What are open questions in questionnaires?

  Questions allowing free-form responses
• What are closed questions in questionnaires?

  Questions requiring fixed range answers
• What are leading questions?

  Questions that prompt a desired response
• What are closed questions?

  Questions that limit responses to specific answers
• What do leading questions do?

  They prompt a desired or preconceived answer
• What is a case study?

  A detailed study of one person or group
• What types of data do case studies typically collect?

  Qualitative data expressing experiences in words
• When are case studies often conducted?

  When investigating unusual abilities or difficulties
• What insights can case studies provide?

  Special insights not gained from other methods
• What is a case history?

  A description of past events in an individual's life
• How can case studies produce quantitative data?

  Through experimental testing and psychological tests
• What is the typical duration of case studies?

  They tend to be longitudinal over a long period
• What are the strengths of case studies?

  • Detailed picture of an individual
  • Basis for future research
  • Unexpected results can lead to insights
  • Knowledge about brain functioning and abnormal behaviors
• What are the weaknesses of case studies?

  • Findings cannot be generalized
  • Potential for interviewer bias
  • Reliance on possibly inaccurate memory
  • Subjective conclusions may vary by researcher
• What do observation studies allow researchers to do?

  Record behavior without interference
• What is naturalistic observation?

  Observation in a natural environment without intervention
• What is controlled observation?

  Researcher manipulates behavior by controlling aspects
• What is covert observation?

  Participants are unaware they are being observed
• What is overt observation?

  Participants know they are being observed
• What is participant observation?

  Researchers get involved with the participants
• What is non-participant observation?

  Researchers remain separate from participants
• How can researchers record behavior in observational studies?

  By breaking behavior into observable categories
• Why is it recommended to have more than one researcher in observational studies?

  To reduce observer bias and improve accuracy
• What is interobserver reliability?

  Agreement between two or more observers
• How can interobserver reliability be checked?

  By comparing data recorded by observers
• What are the strengths of observational studies?

  • Behavior observed in usual settings
  • Useful for researching children or animals
  • Helpful for pilot studies