research methods

Question 1

lab experiment

Answer 1

illegal to test real witnesses as it may bias testimony
IV: changed to test effect of leading question or weapon focus
DV: testimony or witness recall

1. gather ppts to take part - vary characteristics of ppts
2. show film or photo of incident or suspect - ppts see different films
3. ask them to recall as a test of memory - vary time at which ppts recall and how they recall

Question 2

evaluation for lab experiment

Answer 2

• standardised procedure
• good controls allows cause and effect
• easier to replicate
• unnatural behaviour e.g. Loftus and Palmer 1974 ppts expecting to see something so pay more attention so cannot generalise findings to real life
• validity falls as ppts less likely to experience stress by watching film, not interviewed by police and unlikely to speak to others

Question 3

field experiment

Answer 3

• natural setting artificially constructed
• recreate environment in which a particular situation is likely to occur e.g. car accident
• same steps as lab but step 2 is witness real crime
• Valentine and meson 2009 - London dungeon was field experiment

Question 4

evaluation for field experiment

Answer 4

• hard to control as situational variables occur like distractions from others so can’t be replicated as extraneous variable affect findings leading to inconsistent results and low reliability
• behaviour more likely to reflect real life
• increased stress and less recall than lab so increased ecological validity
• ppts unaware they are participating so less risk of demand characteristics
• researcher needs to stage incident to not create excessive distress

Question 5

case studies

Answer 5

= in depth investigation of a single prson

• useful in understanding why a person committed an offence and develop formulation and explore factors relevant to offending
• clinical evaluations of case study determine if treatment of an offender is working

1. gather FEW ppts to take part
2. show film or photo of incident or suspect - ppts see different films
3. ask them to recall as a test of memory - vary time at which ppts recall and how they recall (MORE DETAIL)

Question 6

case study evaluation

Answer 6

• detailed info as you used a variety of sources e.g. interview, questionnaire. identifying motives, beliefs
• cannot be generalised

Question 7

sampling methods

Answer 7

• usually opportunity sample or random sampling of students therefore low generalisability as they represent a homogenous group of individuals who do not have the variation of possible characteristics that typical witnesses might have

Question 8

what the research issues

Answer 8

1. reliability
2. validity
3. objectivity
4. credibility

Question 9

reliability

Answer 9

= consistency of the research findings

Question 10

credibility

Answer 10

• research is credible if it is valid, objective and reliable
• research needs to be credible as the application of findings is important for police

Question 11

validity

Answer 11

= how well a study measures what its supposed to

Question 12

objectivity

Answer 12

= researchers remain natural and unbiased when investigating a topic

• usually gather quantitative so no need for interpretation and no bias
• undertaking a case study on an offender requires you spending time and overtime so you get good understanding of there offending

Field and lab = quantitative so objective
Case study = qualitative so subjective