Psychology - Discussing Research methds & Designs

• Location of Study:


  • Laboratory Studies:
  • Advantages: Controlled environment minimizes outside influences on the variable being studied.
  • Disadvantages: May lack ecological validity.
  • Field Studies:
  • Advantages: Observes behavior in natural settings, increasing ecological validity.
  • Disadvantages: Less control over external variables.
• Nature of Study


  • Retrospective Studies
  • Prospective Studies
• • Retrospective Studies

  • Researchers ask participants about past behaviors.
  • Advantages: Useful for studying past events (e.g., childhood, trauma).
  • Disadvantages: Dependence on participants’ memories, which may be unreliable; verification of information is difficult.
• • Prospective Studies

  • Researchers measure variables at the beginning and monitor changes over time.
  • Advantages: Reduces reliance on memory, provides more accurate data.
  • Disadvantages: Time-consuming; risk of participant dropout.
• Longitudinal Studies


  • Involves repeated observations of the same variables over long periods.
  • Advantages: Observe changes in individuals over time.
  • Disadvantages: Time-consuming; high risk of participant dropout.
• Cross-Sectional Studies

  • Analyzes data from a population at a specific point in time.
  • Advantages: More efficient; less time-consuming; lower dropout risk.
  • Disadvantages: Compares different people, making individual differences a potential confound.
• Quantitative Research Methods


  • Psychologists do not prove hypotheses; they support or refute them.
  • Researchers select methods suitable for their specific research study.
  • Quantitative research methods emphasize objective measurements and statistical analysis of data.
  • Variables must be fully operationalized for validity, and extraneous variables may affect a study's validity.
• Demand Characteristics

  • Participants act differently because they know they are in a study.
  • Types:
  • Expectancy Effect: Participants try to help the researcher by giving the "right" answers.
  • Screw You Effect: Participants attempt to sabotage the study.
  • Social Desirability Effect: Participants answer in a way that makes them look good to the researcher.
• Researcher Bias


  • Researcher's expectations affect the study’s findings.
  • Solution: Use a double-blind control where neither the participants nor the experimenter know the groups or the aim of the study.
• Participant Variability


  • When sample characteristics affect the DV.
  • Solution: Select a random sample and randomly allocate participants to groups.