rms Flashcards
(26 cards)
survey
the collection of information through a sample of people and their responses.
survey +
- can be completed anonymously - valid
- easy to distribute - reliable
survey -
- social desirability issues may arise - less valid
- if misunderstood, no clarification - less valid
interviews
involves and interviewer interacting directly with an individual to obtain information about them and analysed to make conclusions.
unstructured interviews + -
+ - provide rich and details information - valid
- - social desirable issues - less valid
structured interviews + -
+ - fixed set of closed questions - reliable
- - lack of detail - less valid
focus groups
interviewing a group of individuals at the same time
focus groups +
- gain detailed information - valid
- can seek clarification if unsure - valid
focus groups -
- can be disagreements and irrelevant discussion in the group - less valid
- can be difficult to analyse (qualitative data) - less reliable
case studies
a real example explored in detail, relevant to the issues being researched
case studies +
- provides detailed information - valid
- more appropriate to use to investigate sensitive or unethical issues (build a trusting relationship) - valid
case studies -
- difficult to replicate as over a long period of time - less reliable
- could be researched bias as they will spend a lot of time with the participants- less valid
observation
includes observing the behaviour of individuals as well as physical objects e.g. MRI scans
controlled observation (lab experiment) +
- researcher has high control over the study, easier to establish cause and effect - valid
- carries out in a controlled setting - reliable
controlled observation (lab experiment) -
- behaviour may not be realistic as ppts are in an artificial environment - less valid
- ppts know they are being observed so may change behaviour - less valid
natural observation +
- more likely to behave in realistic/genuine way - valid
- useful research situations where intervention would be unethical or sensitive - valid
natural observation -
- if observers are identified being watched they may change behaviour - less valid
- other variable are harder to control - less reliable
correlation
a measure of the extent to which two co-variables are related
correlation +
- can be used to research topics that are sensitive to research using lab experiments (bc they at naturally occurring).
- allows researches to identify a link - valid
correlation -
- no cause and effect can be established , not certain that one variable definitely caused the effect of another - less valid
- results can be misused by the media - less valid
longitudinal studies
when data is gathered on the same subject repeatedly over a period of time
longitudinal studies +
- good for establish trends - can clearly see what is happening in society - valid
- reduce biases of in accurate recall - valid
longitudinal studies -
- takes a long time and is costly - less reliable
- as it takes a long time ppts may drop out or leave study - less valid
scientific experiments
research that takes place in a laboratory conditions and clinical settings.
two variables are tested independent variable (the cause) and dependent variable (the effect).