Data collection methods

Question 1

laboratory experiment strengths

Answer 1

control experimenter has over research variables

high internal validity

Question 2

laboratory experiment weakness

Answer 2

low ecological validity

IV or DV may be operationalised lack mundane realism

Question 3

field experiment strength

Answer 3

more natural

like everyday life compared to laboratory experiment

Question 4

field experiment weakness

Answer 4

difficult to control extraneous variables

MAJOR ethical issue- difficult to debrief participants if they don’t know there being studied- manipulation

Question 5

natural experiment strength

Answer 5

allows research where IV can’t be manipulated

enables study of ‘real problems’ — increased mundane realism and ecological validity

Question 6

natural experiment weakness

Answer 6

cannot demonstrate casual relationship as IV not directly manipulated
random allocation not possible may lead to confounding variables

Question 7

confounding variable

Answer 7

a ‘extra’ variable that can ruin experiment and bring useless results

Question 8

Quasi- experiment

Answer 8

contains a naturally occurring IV- difference between people that already exists
shares similarities with the traditional experimental design or randomised controlled trial

Question 9

quasi experiment strength

Answer 9

allows comparisons between types of people

Question 10

quasi experiment weakness

Answer 10

participants may be aware they are being studied

DV may be a artificial task reducing ecological validity

Question 11

Independent variable meaning

Answer 11

input variable that is manipulated

Question 12

Dependent variable meaning

Answer 12

responds to the IV it is what you measure and what is affected in experiment

Question 13

Observational techniques types

Answer 13

• naturalistic
• controlled
• covert
• overt

Question 14

naturalistic observation strength

Answer 14

realistic picture of spontaneous behaviour

high ecological validity

Question 15

naturalistic observation weakness

Answer 15

little control over what happens in experiment- extraneous variables

Question 16

controlled observation strength

Answer 16

focus on specific aspects of behaviours

Question 17

controlled observation weakness

Answer 17

environment unnatural cause participants behaviour to become less natural - lacks validity

Question 18

covert observation

Answer 18

the participants are unaware they are being studied and unaware of the aims of the research

Question 19

covert observation strength

Answer 19

behaviour more natural as unaware of observation

Question 20

covert observation weakness

Answer 20

ethical issues- observation of private behaviours

Question 21

overt observation

Answer 21

participants are aware they are being observed

Question 22

overt observation strength

Answer 22

no deception involved

Question 23

overt observation weakness

Answer 23

behaviour may be unnatural as they are aware they are being observed

Question 24

questionnaire strength

Answer 24

easy to conduct
once designed and tested they can be distributed to large numbers quickly and cheaply
participants willing to reveal more

Question 25

questionnaire weakness

Answer 25

time consuming to design | sample may be biased due to people willing to do them

Question 26

self report techniques

Answer 26

- questionnaires - interviews - structured - unstructured

Question 27

structured interview strength

Answer 27

easily repeated as questionnaires are standardised - answers can be compared

Question 28

structured interview weakness

Answer 28

interviewers expectations may influence answers- interviewer bias

Question 29

unstructured interview strength

Answer 29

interviewer tailors questions to specific responses and can get a deeper insight into respondents thoughts and feelings

Question 30

unstructured interview weakness

Answer 30

lack objectivity from questions being made on spot | more expensive requirements

Question 31

correlations strength

Answer 31

procedures are easily repeatable

Question 32

correlations weakness

Answer 32

fails to consider intervening variables | with experiments may lack internal/ external validity

Question 33

content analysis

Answer 33

used to analyse qualitative data | technique that allows researcher to transform qualitative data into quantitive data

Question 34

content analysis strength

Answer 34

high ecological validity | findings can be replicated

Question 35

content analysis weakness

Answer 35

observer bias reduces objectivity and validity of findings

Question 36

case study strength

Answer 36

offers in depth data-- data that may be overlooked is identified complex interactions can be studied

Question 37

case study weakness

Answer 37

difficult to generalise | often involves the recollection of past events - unreliable