Research Methods Flashcards
Content analysis
Indirect observation, used to analyse qualitative data into quantitative data
Content analysis evaluation
Strengths:
- not many ethical issues as majority of information is public domain
-High external validity as data occurs in real world
Weakness
- studied indirectly- lacks objectivity and can have researcher bias
Thematic analysis
Assesses material for common themes, coded and analysed
Outcome is qualitative
Case studies
In-depth study that gathers details on one person or a small group
Case studies evaluation
+detailed data as it tends to be qualitative
+High ecological validity
+ avoids ethical issues of studying more sensitive behaviours in a lab
- subjectivity of researcher can cause low internal validity
- lacks generalisability as its only 1 person or a small group so not representative of everyone
-difficult to replicate and time consuming to conduct
Sampling
Population is all possible members the researcher is interested in
Target population is the sample they are selected from.
Sample is the ps selected
Random sampling
Every member has an equal chance of being selected
E.g names from a hat
+ unbiased
-difficult, time consuming
-can be unrepresentative
Systematic sampling
Ps chosen from sampling frame in order (list)
E.g alphabetical
Sample is chosen at every nth interval e.g every 5th person
+objective system
-not everyone has an equal chance of being selected
-can be time consuming
Stratified sampling
Before sampling population is divided into characteristics of importance for the research
E.g age, gender, religion
Then population is randomly sampled within each category
+representative, more generalisable
-can represent all strata (all of the group)
-difficult and time consuming
Opportunity sampling
Use whoever is willing and available
+quick , convenient and economical
-can gave researcher bias in who they select
-not representative or generalisable
Volunteer sampling
Ps select themselves to be apart, usually from advert
+less time consuming
+ps are motivated and engaged
-volunteer bias, means sample is hard to generalise from
Independent groups
- Each one experience 1 IV
+no order effects
+reduced demand characteristic
+quickest answer easiest
-p variables could affect dependent variables
-more ps needed which takes more time and expensive
Repeated measures
All ps experience all level of IV
+dependent variable will not be affected by p variables
+requires less ps so more economical
- may guess aim of study and display demand characteristics
-order effects may affect ps performance unless counterbalancing
Matched pairs
Ps take part in one condition and paired with p in other condition based on characteristic e.g intelligence
+no order effects
+reduced participant variables
+reduced demand characteristics
-more expensive and time consuming
-can’t control all possible p variables
Variables
Extraneous- a variable other than the independent that may effect DV if it is not controlled (lighting)
Confounding- a variable other than the independent that may effect DV but varies with the IV (personality)
