Research Methods

Question 1

types of experiments

Answer 1

laboratory experiments
field experiments
natural experiments

Question 2

what is a laboratory experiment

Answer 2

experiments are done in a well-controlled environment

Question 3

what are 2 strengths of laboratory experiments

Answer 3

1. It is easier to copy a laboratory experiment

2. They allow for precise control of extraneous and independent variables

Question 4

what are 2 weaknesses of laboratory experiments

Answer 4

1. The setting may produce unnatural behaviour

2. Demand characteristics or experimenter effects may bias the results

Question 5

what is a field experiment

Answer 5

done in the everyday environment of the participants

Question 6

what are 2 strengths of field experiments

Answer 6

1. more likely to reflect real life

2. Less chance of demand characteristics

Question 7

what is a weaknesses of field experiments

Answer 7

There is less control over extraneous variables

Question 8

what are natural experiments

Answer 8

Natural experiments are conducted in the everyday environment, but here the experimenter has no control over the IV

Question 9

what are 3 strengths of natural experiments

Answer 9

1. more likely to reflect real life
2. There is less likelihood of demand characteristics
3. Can be used in situations in which it would be ethically unacceptable to manipulate

Question 10

what are 2 weaknesses of natural experiments

Answer 10

1. They may be more expensive and time consuming

2. There is no control over extraneous variables that might bias the results.

Question 11

Key Word: Ecological validity

Answer 11

The degree to which an investigation represents real-life experiences.

Question 12

Key Word: Experimenter effects

Answer 12

the ways that the experimenter can accidentally influence the participant through their appearance or behaviour.

Question 13

Key Word: Demand characteristics

Answer 13

The clues in an experiment that lead the participants to think they know what the researcher is looking for

Question 14

Key Word: Independent variable

Answer 14

Variable the experimenter manipulates

Question 15

Key Word: Dependent variable

Answer 15

Variable the experimenter measures

Question 16

Key Word: Extraneous variables

Answer 16

All variables, which are not the independent variable, but could affect the results

Question 17

Key Word: Confounding variables

Answer 17

could be an extraneous variable that has not been controlled

Question 18

Key Word: Random Allocation

Answer 18

means that all participants should have an equal chance of taking part in each condition.

Question 19

Key Word: Order effects

Answer 19

Changes in participants’ performance due to their repeating the same of similar test more than once.
practice effect and fatigue effect

Question 20

Key Word: practice effect

Answer 20

an improvement in performance on a task due to repetition

Question 21

Key Word: fatigue effect

Answer 21

a decrease in performance of a task due to repetition

Question 22

what is a quasi-experiment

Answer 22

an empirical study used to estimate the causal impact of an intervention on its target population without random assignment

Question 23

what are 2 strengths of quasi-experiments

Answer 23

1. Reactions of test subjects are more likely to be genuine

2. It can be very useful in identifying general trends from the results

Question 24

what are 2 weaknesses of quasi-experiment

Answer 24

1. Pre-existing factors and other influences are not taken into account
2. The research must match ethical standards in order to be valid

Question 25

what is Controlled Observation

Answer 25

Rather than writing a detailed description of all behaviour observed, it is easier to code behaviour according to a premade scale

Question 26

where would you normally carry out a Controlled Observation

Answer 26

lab

Question 27

what type of observation would Controlled Observation be

Answer 27

structured

Question 28

three strengths of Controlled Observation

Answer 28

1. can be easily replicated by other researchers 2. The data obtained is easier and quicker to analyse 3. they are quick to conduct which means that many observations can take place within a short amount of time

Question 29

a limitation of Controlled Observation

Answer 29

they can lack validity due to demand characteristics

Question 30

what is Naturalistic Observation

Answer 30

The researcher simply records what they see in whatever way they can.

Question 31

what type of observation would Naturalistic Observation be

Answer 31

unstructured

Question 32

two strengths of Naturalistic Observation

Answer 32

1. greater ecological validity | 2. often used to generate new ideas

Question 33

four weaknesses of Naturalistic Observation

Answer 33

1. These observations are often conducted on a micro scale 2. less reliable 3. researchers need to be trained to be able to recognise aspects of a situation 4. we do not have manipulations of variables (

Question 34

what is Participant Observation

Answer 34

the researcher joins becomes part of the group they are studying to get a deeper insight into their lives

Question 35

two limitations of Participant Observation

Answer 35

1. It can be difficult to get time privacy for recording | 2. If the researcher becomes too involved they may lose objectivity and become bias

Question 36

what is a Questionnaire

Answer 36

questionnaires can be thought of as a kind of written interview

Question 37

what is good about Questionnaires

Answer 37

its a cheap way of getting lots of information from a large group of people

Question 38

what is bad about Questionnaires

Answer 38

people may lie because of social desirability

Question 39

can questionnaires use both open and closed questions

Answer 39

yes

Question 40

what is a closed question

Answer 40

closed questions structure the answer by allowing only answers which fits into categories that have been decided by the researcher

Question 41

what is a strength of a closed question

Answer 41

researchers get lots of data cheaply

Question 42

what is a weakness of a closed question

Answer 42

they lack detail \(^_^)/

Question 43

what is a open question

Answer 43

open questions allow people to express their own answers in their own words

Question 44

what is a strength of a open question

Answer 44

you get rich qualitative data

Question 45

what is a weakness of a open question

Answer 45

it is very time consuming to analyse the detail

Question 46

What are interviews like

Answer 46

Questionnaires

Question 47

How are interviews different to questionnaires

Answer 47

Researchers need training to do them

Question 48

What do interviewers sometimes use

Answer 48

An interview schedule

Question 49

What are vulnerable groups?

Answer 49

Children Rape victims Trauma victims Disabled people

Question 50

What is a structured interview

Answer 50

A formal interview

Question 51

What are 2 strengths of a structured interview

Answer 51

1. They are easy to replicate | 2. They are very easy to conduct

Question 52

What are two weaknesses of structured interviews

Answer 52

1. They are not flexible | 2. Researchers won't know why someone acts that way

Question 53

What is an unstructured interview

Answer 53

An interview that has no schedule and are known as informal interviews

Question 54

What are three strengths of unstructured interviews

Answer 54

1. Questions can be adapted and changed by what the participant says 2. They generate genuine quantitative data 3. Increased validity

Question 55

What are two limitations of unstructured interviews

Answer 55

1. They can be time consuming | 2. Employing and training interviewers is expensive

Question 56

What is a group interview

Answer 56

When a group all has an interview done together

Question 57

What are two strengths of group interviews

Answer 57

1. Generate quantitative data | 2. Increased validity

Question 58

What are three limitations of a group interview

Answer 58

1. It's hard to keep the interview people's details private 2. They are less reliable as they use open questions 3. Lack validity

Question 59

What is the interviewer effect

Answer 59

The interviewers body language and other factors can cause bad results

Question 60

What 4 things do you have to consider to make an interview

Answer 60

1. If the interview will be structured or unstructured 2. Gender and age 3. Personal characteristics (clothing/accent/appearance) 4. Ethnicity