Research methods- Experimental methods

Question 1

What are the 4 types of experiment ?

Answer 1

1- Natural
2- Laboratory
3- Field
4- Quasi

Question 2

What is a laboratory experiment ?

Answer 2

An experiment that takes place in a special environment whereby different variables can be carefully controlled.

Question 3

What are the advantages of a lab experiment ?

Answer 3

• High degree of control : experimenters control all variables, the IV has been precisely replicated, leading to greater accuracy.
• Replication : researchers can repeat experiments and check results.

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of a lab experiment ?

Answer 4

• Experimenter’s bias : this bias can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
• Low ecological validity : high degree of control makes the situation artificial, unlike real life.

Question 5

What is a field experiment ?

Answer 5

An experiment conducted in a more natural environment, not in a lab but with variables still being well controlled.

Question 6

What are the advantages of a field experiment ?

Answer 6

• Naturalistic : so more natural behaviours hence high ecological validity.
• Controlled IV

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of a field experiment ?

Answer 7

• Ethical considerations : invasion of privacy and likely to have been no informed consent.
• Loss of control : over extraneous variables hence precise replication not possible.

Question 8

What is a quasi experiment ?

Answer 8

An experiment whereby the IV has not been determined by the researcher, instead it naturally exists

Question 9

What are the advantages of a quasi experiment ?

Answer 9

• Controlled conditions : hence replicable, likely to have high internal validity.

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of a quasi experiment ?

Answer 10

• Cannot randomly allocate participants : to conditions so there may be confounding variables presented. This makes it harder to conclude that the IV caused the DV.

Question 11

What is a natural experiment ?

Answer 11

An experiment in which the IV is not brought about by the researcher hence would have happened even if the researcher had not been there

Question 12

What are the advantages of a natural experiment ?

Answer 12

• Provides opportunities : for research that would have otherwise been impossible due to practical or ethical reasons.
• High external validity : as you are dealing with real life issues.

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of a natural experiment ?

Answer 13

• Natural occurring events : may be rare this means these experiments are not likely to be replicable hence hard to generalise findings.
• Very difficult to randomise : participants into groups so confounding & extraneous variables become a problem.

Question 14

What are the 6 observational techniques ?

Answer 14

1- Naturalistic
2- Controlled
3- Overt
4- Covert
5- Participant
6- Non participant

Question 15

What is a naturalistic observation ?

Answer 15

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting where it would normally take place.

Question 16

What are the strengths of a naturalistic observation ?

Answer 16

• High ecological validity
• High external validity as done in a natural environment

Question 17

What are the limitations of a naturalistic observation ?

Answer 17

• Low ecological validity if participants become aware that the are being watched.
• Replication can be difficult.
• Uncontrolled confounding and extraneous variables are presented.

Question 18

What is a controlled observation ?

Answer 18

Watching and recording behaviour in a structured environment

Question 19

What are the strengths of a controlled observation ?

Answer 19

• Researcher is able to focus on a particular aspect of behaviour.
• There is more control over extraneous and confounding variables
• Easy replication.

Question 20

What are the limitations of a controlled observation ?

Answer 20

• More likely to be observing unnatural behaviour as takes place in an unnatural environment.
• Low mundane realism so low ecological validity.
• Demand characteristics presented.

Question 21

What is a overt observation ?

Answer 21

Participants are watched and their behaviour is recorded with them knowing they are being watched.

Question 22

What are the strengths of an overt observation ?

Answer 22

• Ethically acceptable as informed consent is given.

Question 23

What are the limitations of an overt observation ?

Answer 23

• More likely to be recording unnatural behaviour as participants know they are being watched.
• Demand characteristics likely which reduces validity of findings.

Question 24

What is a covert observation ?

Answer 24

The participants are unaware that their behaviour is being watched and recorded.

Question 25

What are the strengths of a covert observation ?

Answer 25

• Natural behaviour recorded hence high internal validity of results.
• Removes problem of participant reactivity whereby participants try to make sense of the situation they are in, which makes them more likely to guess the aim of the study.

Question 26

What are the limitations of a covert observation ?

Answer 26

• Ethical issues presented as no informed consent given.
• Also could be invading the privacy of the participants.

Question 27

What is a participant observation ?

Answer 27

The researcher who is observing is part of the group that is being observed.

Question 28

What are the strengths of a participant observation ?

Answer 28

• Can be more insightful which increases the validity of the findings.

Question 29

What are the limitations of a participant observation ?

Answer 29

• There’s always the possibility that behaviour may change if the participants were to find out they are being watched.
• Researcher may lose objectivity as may start to identify too strongly with the participants.

Question 30

What is a non- participant observation ?

Answer 30

The researcher observes from a distance so is not part of the group being observed.

Question 31

What are the strengths of a non participant observation ?

Answer 31

• Researcher can be more objective as less likely to identify with participants since watching from outside of the group.

Question 32

What are the limitations of a non- participant observation ?

Answer 32

• Open to observer bias for example of stereotypes the observer is aware of.
• Researchers may lose some valuable insight.

Question 33

What is a self report technique ?

Answer 33

Any method in which a person is asked to state their own experiences or feelings related to a given topic

Question 34

What is an open question ?

Answer 34

Questions in which there is no fixed choice of response and respondents can answer in any way they wish

Question 35

What is a closed question ?

Answer 35

Questions in which there’s a fixed choice of responses determined by the question setter

Question 36

What are the strengths of questionnaires ?

Answer 36

• Cost effective

Question 37

What are the weaknesss of questionnaires ?

Answer 37

• Response bias
• Demand characteristics

Question 38

What is a structured interview ?

Answer 38

Made up of pre determined set questions that are asked in a fixed order

Question 39

What is an unstructured interview ?

Answer 39

There are no set questions, but there is a general aim that a certain topic will be discussed

Question 40

What are the strengths and limitations of a structured interview ?

Answer 40

Strength- Easy to replicate
Limitation- Limited data collected due to strict set questions

Question 41

What are the strengths and limitations of an unstructured interview ?

Answer 41

Strength- Lots of flexibility
Limitations- Increased risk of interviewer bias, Demand characteristics

Question 42

What is a correlation ?

Answer 42

A mathematical technique that is used to investigate an association between
two variables which are called co-variables.

Question 43

What is a negative correlation ?

Answer 43

When one variable increases the other decreases. When the data is presented on a scattergram the line of best fit has a negative gradient. It has a correlation coefficient of less than 0.

Question 44

What is a positive correlation ?

Answer 44

When one variable increases the other also increases. When the data is presented on a scattergram the line of best fit has a positive gradient.It has a correlation coefficient of more than 0.

Question 45

What is a zero correlation ?

Answer 45

No relationship is found between the co-variables. When the data i s presented on a scattergram, no line of best fit can be drawn as the points on the scattergram are random. It has a correlation coefficient equal to 0.

Question 46

What is a curvilinear relationship ?

Answer 46

As one variable increases, so does the other but only up to a certain point after which as one variable continues to increase the other begins to decrease. Ona graph this forms an inverted U shape.

Question 47

What are the strengths of using correlations ?

Answer 47

• They can be used as starting points to assess patterns between co-variables before committing to conducting an experimental study.
• Quick and economical to carry out.
• Secondary data can be used in the correlational study which makes it even less time consuming.

Question 48

What are the limitations of using correlations ?

Answer 48

• It is difficult to establish a cause and effect relationship, really only an association is found.
  -The third variable problem is presented this is when there is a chance that there is another variable, a third variable which the researcher is unaware of that is responsible for the relationship between the co-variables.
• Lastly, correlations tend to be misused or misinterpreted especially when made public by the media
• Correlation is often presented as causation.