Strengths and weaknesses of research methods Flashcards
(33 cards)
Strengths of a lab experiment
Highly controlled to remove extraneous variables (high validity)
Replicable because procedure was standardised
Weaknesses of a lab experiment
Lacks ecological validity because the environment was highly controlled
Demand characteristics: in an artificial environment, participants know theyre in a study so behave to help the researcher
Strengths of a field experiment
High ecological validity - natural
Reduces demand characteristics
Weaknesses of a field experiment
Not complete control of all extraneous variables
Not standardised either
No informed consent
Strengths of a quasi experiment
More ethical, IV not manipulated
Allows the study of variables not manipulated by researcher
Weaknesses of a quasi experiment
Can be difficult to replicate if IV isnt manipulated - hard to impose controls
Strengths of self report
Obtain detailed qualitative data - elaborations for behaviour
Only way to assess internal states - opinions, emotions, memory etc
Weaknesses of self report
Participants might not answer honestly as a result of lack of anonymity, demand characteristics, forced choice, social desirability
Researcher bias
Strengths of open questions
Collect detailed qualitative data to explain/elaborate their behaviour/opinions
Use to inform later research
Weaknesses of open questions
Hard to compare responses between participants
Participants may not answer the way researchers want
Strengths of closed questions
Collects quantitative data which is easy to compare between participants
Can check for split half reliability easily to ensure answers are consistent
Weaknesses of closed questions
Lack detail
Standard response set
Forced choice
Strengths of observation
Structured observation - high consistency between observers (inter rater reliability) due to coding frame use
Only way to measure actual outward behaviour rather than how people say they will behave
Measure behaviour unethical to manipulate eg in prisons, fights
Weaknesses of observation
Observer bias - observers pay attention to what they expect to see
Observer/Hawthorne effect: participants behave how they think the observer wants them to/ in socially desirable way = not normal behaviour
Observers may miss behaviours
Strengths of correlation
Starting point for research to establish a possible relationship
Check for interrater reliability
Can use secondary data - find something new
Weaknesses of correlation
Doesnt show a cause and effect relationship
Collects no qualitative data
How to define self report
Collection of data by asking participants questions who will respond with their attitudes/feelings/internal cognitive process
Through interviews or questionnaires
Case study
Focus on one/small group of participants with a specific characteristic by gaining a lot of information in depth using a variety of data collection methods to obtain a holistic view of participant
Strengths of case study
Gains a lot of detailed information - qualitative
Holistic - variety of research methods used
Same person studied = decreases participant variables
Weaknesses of case study
Result in subjective analysis of data as researchers have close relationship with participant
Lacks generalisability by studying people with a specific characteristic, not typical of whole population
Lacks reliability - small sample
Snapshot study
Where each participant will only be tested once around the same point of time - data collected in one go
And have performances compared between
Advantages of snapshot studies
Quicker
Less expensive
Can be replicated easier to test for reliability
What is a cross sectional study?
Using different participants of different ages/levels of experience to compare data and track a change in behaviour over a longer period of time
But still collect data in one go and does not follow up participants more than once = type of snapshot
Longitudinal study
Studies the same participants over a long period of time by periodically collecting data on a behaviour, to show change and development
