Research Methods

Question 1

True Experiment

Answer 1

TYPE: quantitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: decide on a single variable, the IV which they manipulate whether this brings out a change in the DV

CHRACATERISTIC 2: all other variables which might affect the DV are controlled

Question 2

Field Experiment

Answer 2

TYPE: quantitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: seek casual relationships between manipulated IV or a measured/dependent variable yet they don’t take place under controlled conditions, conducted in real-world environment

CHRACATERISTIC 2: participants are often unaware they are being observed

Question 3

Quasi Experiment

Answer 3

TYPE: quantitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: defining feature is that it’s not possibly to randomly allocate participants to the experimental or controlled groups

CHRACATERISTIC 2: findings can be said to lack internal validity as there may be uncontrolled variables that led participants to be in one group and not the other

Question 4

Natural Experiment

Answer 4

TYPE: quantitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: characterized by the fact that the IV is naturally occurring

CHRACATERISTIC 2: findings may lack internal validity as changes in the DV may have arisen due to extraneous factors

Question 6

Participant Naturalistic Observation

Answer 6

TYPE: qualitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: observer collects data from participants in their natural environment without any deliberate manipulation of the setting

CHRACATERISTIC 2: in a participant observation the researcher becomes actively involved within the community or group that he or she is studying

Question 7

Non-Participant Naturalistic Observation

Answer 7

TYPE: qualitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: observer collects data from participants in their natural environments without any deliberate manipulation of the setting

CHRACATERISTIC 2: researcher remains separate from the activities of the group and does not interact with participants whilst conducting the observation

Question 8

Covert Naturalistic Observation

Answer 8

TYPE: qualitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: observer collects data from participants in their natural environments without any deliberate manipulation of the setting

CHRACATERISTIC 2: participants are unaware of the observer and according to the BPS this is ethical if the study takes place in a public setting

Question 10

Unstructured Interview

Answer 10

TYPE: qualitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: the interview schedule will include broad topics or themes for discussion, there may or may not be a list of starter questions but the defining features are flexibility and freedom

CHRACATERISTIC 2: need more training and experience to collect credible data

Question 11

Structured Interview

Answer 11

TYPE: qualitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: the interview schedule states exactly what questions should be asked as well as the order of the questions. The interview procedure is thus highly controlled

CHRACATERISTIC 2: data gathered in a structured interview is easy to analyze and compare with the data from other interviewees

Question 12

Semi-Structured Interview

Answer 12

TYPE: qualitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: there is a pre-determined set of questions in the interview schedule, the interviewer may deviate from this

CHRACATERISTIC 2: interview schedule may include both open and closed questions

Question 13

Focus Group

Answer 13

TYPE: qualitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: comprises people who are interviewed together about a topic of common interests

CHRACATERISTIC 2: the researcher becomes the group facilitator and their role is to monitor the discussion, keep the group on the topic if they veer off into an irrelevant topic

Question 15

Case Study

Answer 15

TYPE: qualitative

CHRACATERISTIC 1: typically focus on a single individual, group or organization that is unusual in some way

CHRACATERISTIC 2: compromise data that has been gathered using a variety of techniques