Research Methods Flashcards
Lab experiment
An experiment conducted in highly controlled conditions where accurate measurements are possible
Strengths: good control for EVs
- easily replicated
- causal relationships can be established
Weaknesses: artificial
- demand characteristics
- deception is used- ethical issues
Field experiment
Conducted not in a lab, but in a natural setting to test the effect of IV on DV
Strengths: causal relationships can be established
- good ecological validity
- no demand characteristics
Weaknesses: confounding variables more likely
- participants did not agree - ethical issues
Natural experiments
When a researcher looks at how the IV (not manipulated by them) affects the DV. The IV should happen naturally, like looking at how a tsunami affects education in the years after
Strengths- ethical (you have not manipulated the IV, you’re just observing), no demand characteristics, ecological validity
Weaknesses- not a real experiment;)
Can’t establish causal relationships, deception is often used.
Quasi experiments
The naturally occurring IV is a difference between two sets of people which a researcher can then examine the effect of on the DV.
Strengths: controlled conditions, ecological validity
Weaknesses: confounding variables are a serious problem, you have no control at all on them. - causal relationships can’t be established, only correlation.
Naturalistic observation
Just watching ppl basically.
Strengths: ecological validity, useful for theory development
Weaknesses: EVs, observer bias, privacy may be an ethical issue
Controlled observation
Watching people but in a condition you created, variables more controlled but lower ecological validity and demand characteristics
Questionnaires
Practical but could be bad questions, biased samples, lying by participants to make them look better, and possible confidentiality issues
Independent groups
Strengths: No order effects Weaknesses: participant variables (individual differences) More participants needed
Repeated measures
Strengths Participant variables accounted for Fewer participants needed Weaknesses Order effects
Matched pairs design
Strengths:
No order effects
Less participants variables
Weaknesses:
Number of participants needed
Practicalities (time taken to match participants)
Standardising research
Creating specific procedures that are followed every time the test is carried out e.g. time of day, environment, instructions
Operationalising variables
Clearly defining all of the research variables, clarifying what each word means. for example the definition of aggressive
Overt observations
When the research has presence is obvious to the participant
advantage: they are much more ethically sound
disadvantage: people might change their behaviour if they know they’re being observed
Covert observations
The research his presence is unknown to the participants
advantage: the participants are much more likely to behave naturally
disadvantage: gaining ethical approval may be difficult
The Hawthorne effect
If participants are interested in the study then they will try harder than usual and results will be unnaturally high. The opposite can also be a problem if the participants are interested in the task
