Strengths And Weaknesses

Question 1

Give 2 strengths of independent measures designs.

Answer 1

• different P’s = no order effects

* task only seen once = no demand characteristics

Question 2

Give 2 weaknesses of an independent measures designs.

Answer 2

• more P’s needed

* individual differences distort results

Question 3

Give 2 strengths of repeated measures designs.

Answer 3

• individual differences don’t distort results

* fewer P’s needed

Question 4

Give 2 weaknesses of repeated measures designs.

Answer 4

• order effects (practice, fatigue, etc) = distort results

* task seen more that once = demand characteristics

Question 5

Give 2 strengths of matched participants.

Answer 5

• task only seen once = less demand characteristics

* controls for individual differences

Question 6

Give 2 weaknesses of matched participants.

Answer 6

• similarity between pairs is limited

* time consuming and difficult to match

Question 7

Give 2 strengths of a lab experiment.

Answer 7

• control over extraneous variables

* can be repeated = reliable

Question 8

Give 2 weaknesses of a lab experiment.

Answer 8

• low ecological validity

* demand characteristics

Question 9

Give 2 strengths of a field experiment.

Answer 9

• normal situation = representative behaviour

* demand characteristics = no problem if P’s unaware of study

Question 10

Give 2 weaknesses of a field experiment.

Answer 10

• control over extraneous variables = difficult (can’t be sure of cause and effect)
• if unaware of a study = ethical issues

Question 11

Give 2 strengths of a quasi-experiment.

Answer 11

• allows us to study variables not ethically manipulated

* real life relevance

Question 12

Give 2 weaknesses of quasi-experiments.

Answer 12

• only possible when naturally occurring differences arise

* control over extraneous variables = difficult

Question 13

Give a strength of participant observations.

Answer 13

• real behaviour seen = validity

Question 14

Give 2 weaknesses of a participant observation.

Answer 14

• observer bias

* if aware of study behaviour won’t be representative

Question 15

Give 2 strengths of a non-participant observation.

Answer 15

• remain objective

* covert = use equipment for detailed results

Question 16

Give 2 weaknesses of a non-participant observation.

Answer 16

• covert = ethical issues

* overt = alter behaviour

Question 17

Give a strength of an overt observation.

Answer 17

• aware so ethical

Question 18

Give a weakness of an overt observation.

Answer 18

• responses may not be natural

Question 19

Give 2 strengths of a covert observation.

Answer 19

• genuine behaviour

* non-P = equipment used for accurate recording

Question 20

Give 2 strengths of naturalistic observations.

Answer 20

• normal environment = representative behaviour

* reactions observed in complex social setting when intervention = unethical/no co-operation

Question 21

Give 2 weaknesses of naturalistic observations.

Answer 21

• Extraneous variables = not controlled

* validity compromised if observer suspected

Question 22

Give 2 strengths of controlled observations.

Answer 22

• data recording = reliable

* extraneous variables controlled = valid

Question 23

Give 2 weaknesses of controlled observations.

Answer 23

• P in unfamiliar environment = unrepresentative

* social situation created = limited

Question 24

Give 2 strengths of a structured observation.

Answer 24

• pilot study = reliable

* operationalised variables = reliable / inter-rater reliability

Question 25

Give 2 weaknesses of a structured observation.

Answer 25

* if not operationalised properly wrong recordings = less valid * predetermined categories = limited

Question 26

Give 2 strengths of an unstructured observation.

Answer 26

* produces quantitative data | * no categories - any relevant behaviour recorded

Question 27

Give 2 weaknesses of an unstructured observation.

Answer 27

* may miss behaviours - looking at everything | * inconsistent/subjective

Question 28

Give a strength of an opportunity sample.

Answer 28

• quick & easy

Question 29

Give a weakness of an opportunity sample.

Answer 29

• non-representative - biased

Question 30

Give 2 strengths of a self-selected sample.

Answer 30

* easy | * P's committed

Question 31

Give a weakness of a self- selected sample.

Answer 31

• non-representative as people who respond = similar

Question 32

Give a strength of a snowball sample.

Answer 32

• easy as only find first few P's

Question 33

Give a weakness of a snowball sample.

Answer 33

• non- representative = similar characteristics

Question 34

Give a strength of a random sample.

Answer 34

• representative

Question 35

Give a weakness of a random sample.

Answer 35

• hard to ensure all equally likely to be chosen - lack of info

Question 36

Give a strength of a stratified sample.

Answer 36

• representative

Question 37

Give a weakness of a stratified sample.

Answer 37

• difficult - all subgroups must be known

Question 38

Give 2 strengths of quantitative data.

Answer 38

* collected using objective measures | * can be analysed using inferential statistics

Question 39

Give 2 weaknesses of quantitative data.

Answer 39

• limits P's response

Question 40

Give 2 strengths of qualitative data.

Answer 40

* highly valid as P's can express themselves | * less likely key/rare observations lost by simplifying data

Question 41

Give 2 weaknesses of qualitative data.

Answer 41

* data from individual = hard to generalise | * interpretation may be biased = invalid

Question 42

Give 2 strengths of questionnaires.

Answer 42

* time/cost effective | * more truthful than interview

Question 43

Give 2 weaknesses of questionnaires.

Answer 43

* response bias = invalid | * quantitative data =limitations

Question 44

Give 2 strengths of interviews.

Answer 44

* structured = easy to analyse | * semi-structured & unstructured = specific & detailed info

Question 45

Give 2 weaknesses of interviews.

Answer 45

* structured = limited by fixed questions | * investigator bias = leading questions alter ways asked

Question 46

Give 2 strengths of both questionnaires and interviews.

Answer 46

* structured questionnaire & interviews = repeatable | * produce quantitative and qualitative data

Question 47

Give 2 weakness of both questionnaires and interviews.

Answer 47

* not everyone can be bothered so P may not be representative * P affected by biases like social desirability, leading questions, etc

Question 48

Give 2 strengths of rating scales.

Answer 48

* easy for P to respond to = lots of data quickly -reliable | * quantitative = easy to analyse

Question 49

Give 2 weaknesses of rating scales.

Answer 49

* response bias | * quantitative data = lacks detail