2.2.4 Location of Research Flashcards
(9 cards)
what is a Laboratory Environment
- Most scientific location, a specially designed environment
- Allows maximum control over variables
- An environment that has been ‘set up’, they offer access to any equipment
- Experiments and observations are commonly carried out in a laboratory
3 strengths of using a LAB ENV. for research
+ Highly controlled
+ Higher internal validity
+ Can utilise specialist equipment
2 weaknesses of using a LAB ENV. for research
- Low ecological validity
- Increased risk of demand characteristics
what is a Field Environment with location examples
– natural setting outside of the laboratory
- The environment may or may not be new to the
participant
- Nearly all research methods can be carried out in the field
e.g. experiment, observation and self-report methods
Examples: schools, shopping centres, office blocks, hospitals and nurseries
3 strengths of FIELD ENV. for research
+ High ecological validity
+ Can research a vast array of topics
+ Findings likely to be more reflective of real life
1 weakness of FIELD ENV. for research
- Lower internal validity due to a lack of control over variables
Online Research
Psychologists can observe new behaviours online as well as traditional psychological topics more efficiently and on a scale and scope they could never have imagined fifty years ago
Surveys and experiments are the most commonly used methodologies online
Researchers utilise social networking sites to find samples and
conduct research
2 strengths of ONLINE RESEARCH
+ Can access diverse, large samples
+ Data is collected electronically
> easy to analyse
> easy to replicate
2 weaknesses of ONLINE RESEARCH
- Ethical issues with regard to Informed Consent and participant identity
- Questionable about the honesty of participants and the
validity of the data collected
