Research methods

• There are 4 experimental methods

  1.     Laboratory experiment

  2.     Field experiment

  3.     Natural experiment

  4.     Quasi experiment  
• LAB EXPERIMENTS:

  A lab experiment is a highly controlled test whereby the experimenter manipulates the independent variable to measure it’s effects on the dependent variable.
• FIELD EXPERIMENTS:

  A field experiment when an independent variable is manipulates to measure the affect it has on the dependent variable, but this is done under a more naturalistic setting outside of the lab.
• NATURAL  EXPERIMENTS:

  A natural experiment when the independent variable is not manipulated by the researcher, rather the researcher makes use of a natural event that has already occurred which forms the independent variable.
• QUASI  EXPERIMENTS:

  A quasi experiment when the independent variable is not manipulated by the researcher, rather the IV is a pre-existing difference between people such as gender or has OCD
• Strength of Lab Experiments:

  -The only method where a cause and effect relationship can be determined - because nothing else is allowed to change, any change in the DV must be because of the change you made to the IV.

  -The high levels of control mean that the experiment can be replicated and thus shows high internal reliability
• Limitation of Lab Experiments:

  Experimental situations are often artificial and contrived, so participant behaviour does not necessarily reflect what they would do in a real-life setting, so lab experiments have low ecological validity.

  • Participants are always aware that they are in an experiment, so they experience demand characteristics - they think about what the experimenter is trying to achieve, and may consciously or unconsciously alter their behaviour to fit. This is especially a problem in social psychology experiments.
• Strength of Field Experiment

  -As field experiments occur in a more naturalistic setting than a lab, and thus has high ecological validity
• Limitation of Field Experiment

  -field experiments have low levels of control which means cause-and-effect conclusions can’t be determined as the DV could be effected by other variables
• Strength of natural Experiment

  -allows us to compare conditions which it would normally be impossible or unethical to deliberately manipulate.
• Limitation of natural Experiment

  -as there is no deliberate manipulation, there may be uncontrolled extraneous variables that interfere with the measurement of the dependent variable.  
• Limitation of quasi Experiment

  -not a ‘true experiment’ and there is a high risk of counfounding variables that affect one condition of the IV but not the other.  
• Strength of quasi Experiment

  -allows us to compare conditions which it would normally be impossible or unethical to deliberately manipulate.
• Observation is widely used in psychology, both as a standalone research method and as a technique for gathering data for experiments. Certain aspects of behaviour are recorded in a particular setting or situation. The researcher can collect qualitative and/or quantitative data which can be analysed in a variety of ways.
• Strengths of observational studies:  Observational studies form the basis of many psychological theories, as we gain empirical data about what people actually do, rather than what they say they would do in a particular situation (e.g. Milgram’s study).
• Limitations of observational studies: Observer bias can contaminate the findings, as the observer cannot be completely objective, and their own expectations can influence what they record, or even what they see.
• A naturalistic observation involves recording behaviour without experimenter intervention, in a ‘natural’ or real-world setting. Usually

  behavioural categories are used to record particular aspects of behaviour.Use naturalistic observation when you want to understand how people behave in a real-life setting.
• Strengths of naturalistic observation: Allows observation of natural, unmannered behaviour, with likely high ecological validity.
• Limitation of naturalistic observation: Little control or understanding of variables that may be influencing behaviour.
• A controlled observation involves observing behaviour in a situation that the experiment has devised, e.g. Bandura’s experiments. Use controlled observation when you want to understand how people respond in a specific situation.
• Strengths of controlled observation: Specific aspects of behaviour can be observed, allowing investigation of precise hypotheses.
• Limitations of controlled observations: Participant’s behaviour may be unnatural and artificial in the contrived situation.
• An overt observation is when the participant knows they are being observed, even if the experimenter is not in view (e.g watching through a camera). Use overt observation when demand characteristics are likely to be unimportant.
• Strengths of overt observations: Ethically unproblematic, as participants are able to give fully informed consent.
• Limitations of overt observations: Participants’ behaviour is likely to be influenced by the presence of the observer; demand characteristics.
• Strengths of covert observation: Behaviour is unaffected and natural.
• Limitations of covert observations: Ethical problems arise as participants may be observed without consent when they have an expectation of privacy.
• A covert observation is when the participants are not aware that they are being observed, and the experimenter is hidden or discreetly positioned in a public place. Use covert observation when demand characteristics would be a problem if people knew they were being observed.
• A participant observation is when The researcher(s) interact with the participants during the course of the investigation, as part of the group. This can be covert (as in an ‘undercover’ investigation of a group) or overt. Use participant observation when it’s important to observe a group from the perspective of an insider.
• Strengths of participant observation: In some cases, becoming a participant in a group will enable the researcher to observe behaviour that would otherwise be private or inaccessible.
• Limitations of participant observations: The risk of observer bias and interference increases with closeness to the group (e.g. Zimbardo’s decision to act as the prison warden in his department has been criticised).
• In a non-participant observation, the observer remains separated from the participants being studied, and does not interact with them during the observation. Use non-participant observation when the observer is aiming to be as objective as possible.
• Strengths of non-participant observation: Compared to participant observations, there is less risk of the investigators unconscious biases influencing behaviour.
• Limitations of non-participant observation: Some behaviours are only displayed within a group, and these may be inaccessible to non-participant observers.
• Any situation in which participants report or reflect on their own

  behaviours, attitudes and beliefs is a self-report study. Most commonly, interviews and questionnaires are used.
• Strengths of self-report: It is important for any understanding of human psychology to include people’s own perceptions and perspectives.
• Limitations of self report: Self-report can be subjective and biased, as people may be either dishonest about or unaware of their true behaviours and motivations. Social desirability bias occurs when participants try to present themselves in a more favourable light.
• A questionnaire is any pre-made list of set questions, either read out or distributed on paper or online. This can include open and/or closed questions, but the emphasis is usually on closed questions, and the data gathered can be used as part of an experiment or analysed on its own.
• Strengths of questionnaires: Questionnaires are the best way of gathering large amounts of behavioural data efficiently, as many copies can be distributed.
• Limitations of questionnaires: People do not always answer honestly, and the nature of questionnaires leaves little room for nuance or complexity.