research methods- yr2 content

• Content analysis

  The process of changing qualitative data into quantitative data
• Content analysis process


  Count chosen coding occurrences
• Coding unit

  Specific behaviours/actions/words/phrases to count in the material
• Types of coding units

  • A particular word or phrase
  • A semantic category
  • A type of utterance
  • Specific observable behaviours
• A coding system needs to be reliable
• Content analysis is often used alongside other methods
• Triangulation checks validity by combining data gathered through other methods
• Content analysis allows analysis of large amounts of qualitative data quickly and systematically
• Computer software can sift through qualitative information and count specific words
• Benefits of content analysis

  • Analyses large amounts of qualitative data quickly
  • Easy to test for reliability
• Problems with content analysis

  • Potential for bias
  • Data may not be accurately analysed
• Case studies

  In-depth study over time of a single individual or small group
• Data in case studies can be gathered using various methods
• Case studies provide insight

  Into personal experiences and suggest new avenues of research
• Clive Wearing contracted the Herpes Simplex virus in 1985
• Clive Wearing has been unable to process new memories since the virus attacked his brain
• Advantages of case studies

  • Rich and interesting data
  • Allow study of ethically sensitive topics
• Disadvantages of case studies

  • Low reliability
  • Findings may be subjective
• Reliability

  Refers to the consistency of the research
• The test-retest method assesses reliability
• Inter-observer reliability checks if observers interpret categories in the same way
• Ways to improve reliability

  • Operationalise variables
  • Use standardised instructions
  • Train observers
• Validity

  Refers to accuracy and whether a study measures what it claims to
• Types of validity

  • Internal validity
  • External validity
• Internal validity

  Concerns what goes on inside a study
• External validity

  Concerns factors outside of the study
• Face validity


  Refers to whether a study appears to measure what it set out to
• Concurrent validity


  Compares new measures to previously validated measures
• Ecological validity

  The extent to which findings can be generalised to different contexts
• Mundane realism


  Does the experiment mirror real-world events?
• Psychological/experimental realism


  Are the psychological processes being measured the same as in everyday life?
• This might involve one or two experts looking at the design and the measures used in the study to see if they are appropriate to the aim of the study
• Face validity

  Measuring head circumference to test intelligence has low face validity
• Concurrent validity

  New measures in a study are compared to measures in another which have been previously validated
• A strong positive correlation between the two

  Suggests the new measure has validity
• Ecological validity

  The extent to which we can generalise to different contexts (i.e., real life, other experiments)
• Mundane realism

  Does the experiment 'mirror' the real world and resemble events in normal everyday life?
• Psychological/experimental realism


  Are the psychological processes being measured the same as occur in everyday life?
• Temporal (historical) validity

  The extent to which we can generalise to different time periods
• Asch's studies are likely to lack temporal validity as conformity rates were high in 1950s USA