experiments and observations

Question 1

What is a quasi experiment?

Answer 1

An experiment in which the IV is naturally occurring as is not directly manipulated by the researcher
-Beneficial when unethical to manipulate IV e.g Sperry

Question 2

What is a laboratory experiment

Answer 2

An experiment that is conducted under high control, where the IV is manipulated by the researcher to measure the effect on the DV

• High in control, standardised, reliable
• Low in ecological validity

Question 3

What is a field experiment?

Answer 3

An experiment that takes place in the participants natural environment.

• The researcher still manipulates the IV but extraneous variables are harder to control
• high in ecological validity

Question 4

What is a covert observation?

Answer 4

An observation in which participants are unaware that they are being observed

• Lowers demand characteristics
• Ethical issues

Question 5

What is an overt observation?

Answer 5

An observation where participants are aware that their behaviour is being observed
-Can cause demand characteristics

Question 6

What is a participant observation?

Answer 6

A participant observation is where the researcher becomes an active participant in the group or situation they are studying in order to gain more insight

• Less chance for missed behaviours
• Observer bias, researcher could record behaviours inaccurately based on what they expect/want to see

Question 7

What is a non participant observation?

Answer 7

A non participant observation is where the researcher stays separate from the participants they’re observing
-More objective view, less chance for researcher bias

Question 8

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 8

An observation where participants are observed in their natural environment

• High ecological validity
• Less chance for demand characteristics

Question 9

Structured observation

Answer 9

An observation study using predetermined coding scheme to record the participants’ behaviour

• produces quantitative data, more reliable
• Behaviours can be missed

Question 10

Unstructured observation

Answer 10

Observation where there is no checklist so every behaviour seen is written down in an much detail as possible

Question 11

Structured interview

Answer 11

The interviewer asks a standardised list of questions which is rigidly stuck to (so they are not flexible).

• high in reliability, standardised procedure
• Lacks detail as cannot ask follow up questions

Question 12

Unstructured interview

Answer 12

An unstructured interview is an interview in which there is no specific set of predetermined questions, although the interviewers usually have certain topics in mind that they wish to cover during the interview

• More insight as follow up questions can be asked
• Less formal, less chance for demand characteristics
• Less reliable, more time consuming

Question 13

Semi-structured interview

Answer 13

Semi-structured interviews contain mostly prepared questions that can be supplemented with additional questions. The interviewer can deviate from the original questions and therefore this type of interview typically produces rich qualitative data

• More reliable than unstructured
• More insightful than structured

Question 14

Abstract (report writing)

Answer 14

1 - A summary of the overall nature of the investigation and findings, including details such as method used, aim, design, results conclusions

Question 15

Introduction (report writing)

Answer 15

2 - The introduction section sets the scene for the reader. It is the section in your report that contains relevant background theory and studies which are written in a logical manner to put the aim and hypothesis of your
investigation into context

Question 16

Method (report writing)

Answer 16

3 - the section that requires you to be thorough so that anyone who wishes to replicate your study can follow the step by step process in what you have done. It should include design, apparatus, participants, procedure

Question 17

Results (report writing)

Answer 17

4 - Should include inferential and descriptive statistics

Question 18

Discussion (report writing)

Answer 18

5 - You should explain your findings, link back to studies mentioned in the introduction, weaknesses of your study and modifications you’d make for future research, conclusion

Question 19

References (report writing)

Answer 19

6 - Make sure to acknowledge any studies (researchers’ theories, studies or models) mentioned in the Introduction and Discussion sections of your report in your references

Question 20

Appendices (report writing)

Answer 20

7 - Should include materials such as consent forms, standardised instructions, ethics sheets, materials, raw data, statistical analysis